Compositions and methods for surface treatment with lipases

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions for treating textiles and hard surfaces with compositions having specific lipases are described. The compositions have increased stability to oxidative degradation in particular due to bleach catalysts.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to compositions comprising lipase enzymes and bleaching agents, as well as methods of making and using such compositions which are preferably fabric and home care products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Detergent manufacturers continue to try to provide cleaning compositions, particularly fabric and dish-cleaning compositions which provide the most robust cleaning systems. In the case of cleaning with lipase enzymes, they may be particularly vulnerable to oxidation, especially where such enzymes come into contact with bleach during storage or during a wash or treatment step, either both incorporated into the wash or treatment step, or one or the other component being carried over from a pre-treatment step, particularly for example from a pre-treating bleaching step. This leads to loss of activity or efficacy of the composition as a whole, and in particular to loss of enzyme activity. Certain bleach components are particularly problematic, such as pre-formed peracids and bleach catalysts or boosters. WO2007/001262 relates to cleaning compositions comprising organic catalysts with enhanced enzyme compatibility, specifically for amylase enzyme enhanced compatibility. There remains a need for a composition which alleviates this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of cleaning and/or treating a textile, hard surface and/or other surface for fabric and/or home care, comprising the steps of:

-   -   a) contacting a textile, hard surface and/or other surface for         fabric and/or home care with an aqueous solution comprising a         lipase; and (ii) a bleach component and (iii) optional detergent         adjunct;     -   b) rinsing and drying the textile or hard surface;         characterized in that the lipase has improved stability to         oxidative degradation compared to the mature polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO:1 and lipase activity, preferably the lipase variant         comprises a lipase variant comprising a substitution at one or         more of the positions selected from the group of positions         corresponding to T37, N39 and G91, of the mature polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO:1. The present invention also provides a method of         manufacturing a detergent composition comprising a lipase         variant exhibiting improved stability to oxidative degradation         compared to the lipase variant of SEQ ID NO:1, and lipase         activity, the method comprising the step of mixing the lipase         variant with a detergent adjunct. Preferably the lipase variant         is a variant of SEQ ID NO:1 comprising a substitution at one or         more of the positions selected from the group of positions         corresponding to T37, N39 and G91 of the mature polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO:1. In accordance with a further aspect of the         invention there is provided a composition comprising a lipase         variant having lipase activity and exhibiting improved stability         to oxidative degradation, and a detergent adjunct. The invention         also provides a cleaning and/or treatment composition comprising         a lipase variant having lipase activity and comprising a         substitution at one or more of the positions selected from the         group of positions corresponding to T37, N39 and G91 of the         mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1, and a detergent adjunct. It         may be preferred that the compositions also comprise a bleach         component.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a detergent composition comprising a lipase and exhibiting improved stability to oxidative degradation, comprising the step of mixing a lipase variant comprising a substitution at one or more of the positions selected from the group of positions corresponding to T37, N39 and G91 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the variant has lipase activity, with a detergent adjunct.

A lipase variant exhibiting improved stability to oxidative degradation can be determined by following the test in Example 1. Lipase variants exhibiting improved stability to oxidative degradation have a RPwash of at least 1.01, or at least 1.2 or even at least 1.5. The conventional lipase for comparison is that of SEQ ID NO:1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

Unless otherwise noted, all component or composition levels are in reference to the active portion of that component or composition, and are exclusive of impurities, for example, residual solvents or by-products, which may be present in commercially available sources of such components or compositions.

All percentages and ratios are (1) calculated by weight unless otherwise indicated and (2) calculated based on the total composition unless otherwise indicated.

As used herein, articles such as “a” and “an” when used in a claim, are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described.

As used herein, the terms “include”, “includes” and “including” are meant to be non-limiting.

As used herein, the term “solid” includes granular, powder, bar and tablet product forms.

As used herein, the term “fluid” includes liquid, gel, paste and gas product forms.

As used herein, the term “lipase” or “lipolytic enzyme” or “lipid esterase” is an enzyme in class EC 3.1.1 as defined by Enzyme Nomenclature. It may have lipase activity (triacylglycerol lipase, EC 3.1.1.3), cutinase activity (EC 3.1.1.74), sterol esterase activity (EC 3.1.1.13) and/or wax-ester hydrolase activity (EC 3.1.1.50). For purposes of the present invention, lipase activity is determined according to the procedure described in the Examples. In one aspect, the variants of the present invention have at least 20%, e.g., at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the lipase activity of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

As used herein, the term “allelic variant” means any of two or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal locus. Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may result in polymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no change in the encoded polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having altered amino acid sequences. An allelic variant of a polypeptide is a polypeptide encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.

As used herein, the term “cDNA” means a DNA molecule that can be prepared by reverse transcription from a mature, spliced, mRNA molecule obtained from a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell. cDNA lacks intron sequences that may be present in the corresponding genomic DNA. The initial, primary RNA transcript is a precursor to mRNA that is processed through a series of steps, including splicing, before appearing as mature spliced mRNA.

As used herein, the term “coding sequence” means a polynucleotide, which directly specifies the amino acid sequence of a variant. The boundaries of the coding sequence are generally determined by an open reading frame, which begins with a start codon such as ATG, GTG or TTG and ends with a stop codon such as TAA, TAG, or TGA. The coding sequence may be a genomic DNA, cDNA, synthetic DNA, or a combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “control sequences” means nucleic acid sequences necessary for expression of a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the present invention. Each control sequence may be native (i.e., from the same gene) or foreign (i.e., from a different gene) to the polynucleotide encoding the variant or native or foreign to each other. Such control sequences include, but are not limited to, a leader, polyadenylation sequence, propeptide sequence, promoter, signal peptide sequence, and transcription terminator. At a minimum, the control sequences include a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals. The control sequences may be provided with linkers for the purpose of introducing specific restriction sites facilitating ligation of the control sequences with the coding region of the polynucleotide encoding a variant.

As used herein, the term “expression” includes any step involved in the production of a variant including, but not limited to, transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation, post-translational modification, and secretion.

As used herein, the term “expression vector” means a linear or circular DNA molecule that comprises a polynucleotide encoding a variant and is operably linked to control sequences that provide for its expression.

As used herein, the term “fragment” means a polypeptide having one or more (e.g., several) amino acids absent from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of a mature polypeptide; wherein the fragment has lipase activity. In one aspect, a fragment contains at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, and at least 95% of the number of amino acids of the mature polypeptide.

As used herein, the term “high stringency conditions” means for probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridization and hybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 50% formamide, following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carrier material is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 65° C.

As used herein, the term “host cell” means any cell type that is susceptible to transformation, transfection, transduction, or the like with a nucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention. The term “host cell” encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to the parent cell due to mutations that occur during replication.

As used herein, the term “improved property” means a characteristic associated with a variant that is improved compared to the parent. Such improved properties includes improved performance in the presence of an organic catalyst. In some preferred embodiments, the invention relates to a composition or method in which the variant has improved stability to an organic catalyst selected from the group consisting of organic catalysts having the following formulae:

or

c) mixtures thereof,

mixtures thereof, wherein each R1 is independently a branched alkyl group containing from 3 to 24 carbons or a linear alkyl group containing from 1 to 24 carbons in particular in which R is 2-butyl octyl, and preferably the improved stability is in the presence of Formula 2 in which R is 2-butyl octyl.

As used herein, the term “isolated” means a substance in a form or environment which does not occur in nature. Non-limiting examples of isolated substances include (1) any non-naturally occurring substance, (2) any substance including, but not limited to, any enzyme, variant, nucleic acid, protein, peptide or cofactor, that is at least partially removed from one or more or all of the naturally occurring constituents with which it is associated in nature; (3) any substance modified by the hand of man relative to that substance found in nature; or (4) any substance modified by increasing the amount of the substance relative to other components with which it is naturally associated (e.g., multiple copies of a gene encoding the substance; use of a stronger promoter than the promoter naturally associated with the gene encoding the substance). An isolated substance may be present in a fermentation broth sample.

As used herein, the term “low stringency conditions” means for probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridization and hybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 25% formamide, following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carrier material is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 50° C.

As used herein, the term “mature polypeptide” means a polypeptide in its final form following translation and any post-translational modifications, such as N-terminal processing, C-terminal truncation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc. In one aspect, the mature polypeptide is amino acids 1 to 269 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

As used herein, the term “medium stringency conditions” means for probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridization and hybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 35% formamide, following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carrier material is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 55° C.

As used herein, the term “medium-high stringency conditions” means for probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridization and hybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and either 35% formamide, following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carrier material is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 60° C.

As used herein, the term “mutant” means a polynucleotide encoding a variant.

As used herein, the term “nucleic acid construct” means a nucleic acid molecule, either single- or double-stranded, which is isolated from a naturally occurring gene or is modified to contain segments of nucleic acids in a manner that would not otherwise exist in nature or which is synthetic, which comprises one or more control sequences.

As used herein, the term “operably linked” means a configuration in which a control sequence is placed at an appropriate position relative to the coding sequence of a polynucleotide such that the control sequence directs expression of the coding sequence.

As used herein, the term “parent” or “parent lipase” means a lipase to which an alteration is made to produce the enzyme variants of the present invention. The parent may be a naturally occurring (wild-type) polypeptide or a variant or fragment thereof.

Sequence identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences or between two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter “sequence identity”. For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the −nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues×100)/(Length of Alignment−Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between two deoxyribonucleotide sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, supra) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, supra), preferably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBI NUC4.4) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the −nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Deoxyribonucleotides×100)/(Length of Alignment−Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

As used herein, the term “subsequence” means a polynucleotide having one or more (e.g., several) nucleotides absent from the 5′ and/or 3′ end of a mature polypeptide coding sequence; wherein the subsequence encodes a fragment having lipase activity. In one aspect, a subsequence contains at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, and at least 95% of the number of nucleotides of the mature polypeptide coding sequence.

As used herein, the term “variant” means a polypeptide having lipase activity comprising a substitution at one or more (e.g., several) positions. A substitution means replacement of the amino acid occupying a position with a different amino acid. The variants of the present invention have at least 20%, e.g., at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the lipase activity of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

As used herein, the term “very high stringency conditions” means for probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridization and hybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 50% formamide, following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carrier material is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 70° C.

As used herein, the term “very low stringency conditions” means for probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridization and hybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 25% formamide, following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carrier material is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 45° C.

As used herein, the term “wild-type” lipase means a lipase expressed by a naturally occurring microorganism, such as a bacterium, yeast, or filamentous fungus found in nature.

Conventions for Designation of Variants

For purposes of the present invention, the mature polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 1 is used to determine the corresponding amino acid residue in another lipase. The amino acid sequence of another lipase is aligned with the mature polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 1, and based on the alignment, the amino acid position number corresponding to any amino acid residue in the mature polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO: 1 is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix.

Identification of the corresponding amino acid residue in another lipase can be determined by an alignment of multiple polypeptide sequences using several computer programs including, but not limited to, MUSCLE (multiple sequence comparison by log-expectation; version 3.5 or later; Edgar, 2004, Nucleic Acids Research 32: 1792-1797), MAFFT (version 6.857 or later; Katoh and Kuma, 2002, Nucleic Acids Research 30: 3059-3066; Katoh et al., 2005, Nucleic Acids Research 33: 511-518; Katoh and Toh, 2007, Bioinformatics 23: 372-374; Katoh et al., 2009, Methods in Molecular Biology 537: 39-64; Katoh and Toh, 2010, Bioinformatics 26: 1899-1900), and EMBOSS EMMA employing ClustalW (1.83 or later; Thompson et al., 1994, Nucleic Acids Research 22: 4673-4680), using their respective default parameters.

When the other enzyme has diverged from the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 such that traditional sequence-based comparison fails to detect their relationship (Lindahl and Elofsson, 2000, J. Mol. Biol. 295: 613-615), other pairwise sequence comparison algorithms can be used. Greater sensitivity in sequence-based searching can be attained using search programs that utilize probabilistic representations of polypeptide families (profiles) to search databases. For example, the PSI-BLAST program generates profiles through an iterative database search process and is capable of detecting remote homologs (Atschul et al., 1997, Nucleic Acids Res. 25: 3389-3402). Even greater sensitivity can be achieved if the family or superfamily for the polypeptide has one or more representatives in the protein structure databases. Programs such as GenTHREADER (Jones, 1999, J. Mol. Biol. 287: 797-815; McGuffin and Jones, 2003, Bioinformatics 19: 874-881) utilize information from a variety of sources (PSI-BLAST, secondary structure prediction, structural alignment profiles, and solvation potentials) as input to a neural network that predicts the structural fold for a query sequence. Similarly, the method of Gough et al., 2000, J. Mol. Biol. 313: 903-919, can be used to align a sequence of unknown structure with the superfamily models present in the SCOP database. These alignments can in turn be used to generate homology models for the polypeptide, and such models can be assessed for accuracy using a variety of tools developed for that purpose.

For proteins of known structure, several tools and resources are available for retrieving and generating structural alignments. For example the SCOP superfamilies of proteins have been structurally aligned, and those alignments are accessible and downloadable. Two or more protein structures can be aligned using a variety of algorithms such as the distance alignment matrix (Holm and Sander, 1998, Proteins 33: 88-96) or combinatorial extension (Shindyalov and Bourne, 1998, Protein Engineering 11: 739-747), and implementation of these algorithms can additionally be utilized to query structure databases with a structure of interest in order to discover possible structural homologs (e.g., Holm and Park, 2000, Bioinformatics 16: 566-567).

In describing the variants of the present invention, the nomenclature described below is adapted for ease of reference. The accepted IUPAC single letter or three letter amino acid abbreviations are employed.

Substitutions.

For an amino acid substitution, the following nomenclature is used:

Original amino acid, position, substituted amino acid. Accordingly, the substitution of threonine at position 226 with alanine is designated as “Thr226Ala” or “T226A”. Multiple mutations are separated by addition marks (“+”), e.g., “Gly205Arg+Ser411Phe” or “G205R+S411F”, representing substitutions at positions 205 and 411 of glycine (G) with arginine (R) and serine (S) with phenylalanine (F), respectively.

Multiple Substitutions.

Variants comprising multiple substitutions are separated by addition marks (“+”), e.g., “Arg170Tyr+Gly195Glu” or “R170Y+G195E” representing a substitution of arginine and glycine at positions 170 and 195 with tyrosine and glutamic acid, respectively.

Different Substitutions.

Where different alterations can be introduced at a position, the different alterations are separated by a comma, e.g., “Arg170Tyr,Glu” or “R170Y,E” represents a substitution of arginine at position 170 with tyrosine or glutamic acid. Thus, “Tyr167Gly,Ala+Arg170Gly,Ala” designates the following variants: “Tyr167Gly+Arg170Gly”, “Tyr167Gly+Arg170Ala”, “Tyr167Ala+Arg170Gly”, and “Tyr167Ala+Arg170Ala”.

Lipase Variants

In order to assess the stability to oxidative degradation of the lipase variant, the value for Relative Performance (RPwash) is determined, i.e. wash performance (P) of the lipase variant to be tested, and divided by the wash performance of the lipase of SEQ ID NO:1. Thus RPwash=P(invention lipase variant)/P(SEQ ID NO:1 lipase). Lipase variants having improved stability to oxidative degradation will have a RPwash value at least 1.01, preferably at least 1.1, or even at least 1.5.

A lipase variant suitable for use in the present invention comprises a substitution at one or more of the positions selected from the group of positions corresponding to T37, N39 and G91. Preferably the lipase variant is an isolated lipase variant. Suitable lipase variants for use in the present invention preferably comprise a substitution at one or more (e.g., several) positions corresponding to positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q or even G91A of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the variant has lipase activity. Most preferably such one or more substitution is combined with one, preferably both of T231R and N233R.

Preferably the variant has sequence identity of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99%, but less than 100%, to the amino acid sequence of the parent lipase.

In another embodiment, the variant has at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, such as at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99%, but less than 100%, sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In one aspect, the number of substitutions in the variants of the present invention is 1-20, e.g., 1-10 and 1-5, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 substitutions.

In another aspect, a variant comprises a substitution at one or more (e.g., several) positions corresponding to positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1. In another aspect, a variant comprises an alteration at two positions corresponding to any of positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1. In another aspect, a variant comprises an alteration at three positions corresponding to any of positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of a substitution at a position corresponding to position T37 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 which is substituted with Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, preferably with Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Phe, Pro, Ser, Trp, Tyr, or Val. In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of the substitution T37A, T37D, T37E, T37F, T37G, T37H, T37I, T37L, T37N, T37P, T37Q, T37R, T37S, T37V, T37W, or T37Y of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of a substitution at a position corresponding to position N39 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 which is substituted with Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, preferably with Ala, Arg, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val. In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of the substitution N39A, N39C, N39D, N39E, N39F, N39G, N39I, N39K, N39L, N39M, N39P, N39Q, N39R, N39T, N39V, N39W, N39Y of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of a substitution at a position corresponding to position G91 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 which is substituted with Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, Cys, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, or Val, preferably with Asp, Gln, His, Be, or Pro. In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of the substitution G91D, G91H, G91I, G91P, G91Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1. In a preferred aspect the variant comprises or consists of a substitution at a position corresponding to G91 which is G91A.

In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of substitutions at positions corresponding to positions T37 and N39, such as those described above.

In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of substitutions at positions corresponding to positions T37 and G91, such as those described above.

In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of substitutions at positions corresponding to positions N39 and G91, such as those described above.

In another aspect, the variant comprises or consists of substitutions at positions corresponding to positions T37, N39, and G91, such as those described above.

The variants may further comprise one or more additional substitutions at one or more (e.g., several) other positions.

The amino acid changes may be of a minor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions or insertions that do not significantly affect the folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typically of 1-30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small linker peptide of up to 20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification by changing net charge or another function, such as a poly-histidine tract, an antigenic epitope or a binding domain.

Examples of conservative substitutions are within the groups of basic amino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine and asparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine), aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and small amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threonine and methionine).

Alternatively, the amino acid changes are of such a nature that the physico-chemical properties of the polypeptides are altered. For example, amino acid changes may improve the thermal stability of the polypeptide, alter the substrate specificity, change the pH optimum, and the like.

For example, the variants may comprise a substitution at a position corresponding to positions D96, T143, A150, E210, G225, T231, N233 and P250 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1. In some embodiments the substitution is selected from D96G, T143A, A150G, E210Q, G225R, T231R, N233R and P250R.

In a preferred embodiment the lipase variant for use in the invention relates to variants selected from:

-   -   G91Q+T143A+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R     -   G91Q+A150G+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R     -   T37R+N39R+G91A+D96G+T231R+N233R     -   G91Q+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R     -   G91I+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R     -   G91A+D96G+T231R+N233R     -   G91A+D96G+G225R+T231R+N233R     -   G91N+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R     -   G91L+E210Q+T231R+N233R     -   G91A+D96G+A150G+T231R+N233R

Essential amino acids in a polypeptide can be identified according to procedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, 1989, Science 244: 1081-1085). In the latter technique, single alanine mutations are introduced at every residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules are tested for lipase activity to identify amino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. See also, Hilton et al., 1996, J. Biol. Chem. 271: 4699-4708. The active site of the enzyme or other biological interaction can also be determined by physical analysis of structure, as determined by such techniques as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electron diffraction, or photoaffinity labeling, in conjunction with mutation of putative contact site amino acids. See, for example, de Vos et al., 1992, Science 255: 306-312; Smith et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 224: 899-904; Wlodaver et al., 1992, FEBS Lett. 309: 59-64. The identity of essential amino acids can also be inferred from an alignment with a related polypeptide.

The variants may consist of at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, and at least 95% of the number of amino acids of the mature polypeptide.

In an embodiment, the variant has improved performance, in particular in the presence of a bleach component. Preferred variants have improved performance in the presence of an organic catalyst selected from the group consisting of organic catalysts having the following formulae:

or

c) mixtures thereof,

mixtures thereof, wherein each R1 is independently a branched alkyl group containing from 3 to 24 carbons or a linear alkyl group containing from 1 to 24 carbons; and recovering the variant.

In some embodiments R1 is independently a branched alkyl group containing from 8 to 18 carbons or a linear alkyl group containing from 8 to 18 carbons.

In some embodiments R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of 2-propylheptyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-octadecyl, iso-nonyl, iso-decyl, iso-tridecyl, and iso-pantadecyl. Preferably R1 is selected from the group consisting of 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, iso-tridecyl, and iso-pantadecyl. Preferred variants have improved performance in the presence of a catalyst of formula b) in which R is 2-butyloctyl.

Parent Lipases

The parent lipase may be a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In an aspect, the parent has a sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%, which have lipase activity. In one aspect, the amino acid sequence of the parent differs by no more than 20 amino acids, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 from the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In another aspect, the parent comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. In another aspect, the parent comprises or consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1. In another aspect, the parent comprises or consists of amino acids 1 to 269 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In another aspect, the parent is a fragment of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, and at least 95% of the number of amino acids of the mature polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the parent is an allelic variant of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

The polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof, may be used to design nucleic acid probes to identify and clone DNA encoding a parent from strains of different genera or species according to methods well known in the art. In particular, such probes can be used for hybridization with the genomic DNA or cDNA of a cell of interest, following standard Southern blotting procedures, in order to identify and isolate the corresponding gene therein. Such probes can be considerably shorter than the entire sequence, but should be at least 15, e.g., at least 25, at least 35, or at least 70 nucleotides in length. Preferably, the nucleic acid probe is at least 100 nucleotides in length, e.g., at least 200 nucleotides, at least 300 nucleotides, at least 400 nucleotides, at least 500 nucleotides, at least 600 nucleotides, at least 700 nucleotides, at least 800 nucleotides, or at least 900 nucleotides in length. Both DNA and RNA probes can be used. The probes are typically labeled for detecting the corresponding gene (for example, with ³²P, ³H, ³⁵S, biotin, or avidin). Such probes are encompassed by the present invention.

A genomic DNA or cDNA library prepared from such other strains may be screened for DNA that hybridizes with the probes described above and encodes a parent. Genomic or other DNA from such other strains may be separated by agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or other separation techniques. DNA from the libraries or the separated DNA may be transferred to and immobilized on nitrocellulose or other suitable carrier material. In order to identify a clone or DNA that hybridizes with SEQ ID NO: 1 or a subsequence thereof, the carrier material is used in a Southern blot.

The polypeptide may be a hybrid polypeptide in which a region of one polypeptide is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus of a region of another polypeptide.

The parent may be a fusion polypeptide or cleavable fusion polypeptide in which another polypeptide is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the polypeptide of the present invention. A fusion polypeptide is produced by fusing a polynucleotide encoding another polypeptide to a polynucleotide of the present invention. Techniques for producing fusion polypeptides are known in the art, and such as ligating the coding sequences encoding the polypeptides so that they are in frame and that expression of the fusion polypeptide is under control of the same promoter(s) and terminator. Fusion polypeptides may also be constructed using intein technology in which fusion polypeptides are created post-translationally (Cooper et al., 1993, EMBO J. 12: 2575-2583; Dawson et al., 1994, Science 266: 776-779).

A fusion polypeptide can further comprise a cleavage site between the two polypeptides. Upon secretion of the fusion protein, the site is cleaved releasing the two polypeptides. Examples of cleavage sites include, but are not limited to, the sites disclosed in Martin et al., 2003, J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 3: 568-576; Svetina et al., 2000, J. Biotechnol. 76: 245-251; Rasmussen-Wilson et al., 1997, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63: 3488-3493; Ward et al., 1995, Biotechnology 13: 498-503; and Contreras et al., 1991, Biotechnology 9: 378-381; Eaton et al., 1986, Biochemistry 25: 505-512; Collins-Racie et al., 1995, Biotechnology 13: 982-987; Carter et al., 1989, Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 6: 240-248; and Stevens, 2003, Drug Discovery World 4: 35-48.

The parent may be obtained from microorganisms of any genus. For purposes of the present invention, the term “obtained from” as used herein in connection with a given source shall mean that the parent encoded by a polynucleotide is produced by the source or by a strain in which the polynucleotide from the source has been inserted. In one aspect, the parent is secreted extracellularly.

The parent may be a bacterial lipase. For example, the parent may be a Gram-positive bacterial polypeptide such as a Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Geobacillus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Oceanobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Streptomyces, Thermobifida fusca alias Thermomonospora fusca lipase or a Gram-negative bacterial polypeptide such as a Campylobacter, E. coli, Flavobacterium, Fusobacterium, Helicobacter, Ilyobacter, Neisseria, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, or Ureaplasma lipase.

In one aspect, the parent is a Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, or Bacillus thuringiensis lipase.

In another aspect, the parent is a Streptococcus equisimilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus uberis, or Streptococcus equi subsp. Zooepidemicus lipase.

In another aspect, the parent is a Streptomyces achromogenes, Streptomyces avermitilis, Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces griseus, or Streptomyces lividans lipase.

The parent may be a fungal lipase. For example, the parent may be a yeast lipase such as a Candida, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, or Yarrowia lipase; or a filamentous fungal lipase such as an Acremonium, Agaricus, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Botryospaeria, Ceriporiopsis, Chaetomidium, Chrysosporium, Claviceps, Cochliobolus, Coprinopsis, Coptotermes, Corynascus, Cryphonectria, Cryptococcus, Diplodia, Exidia, Filibasidium, Fusarium, Gibberella, Holomastigotoides, Humicola, Irpex, Lentinula, Leptospaeria, Magnaporthe, Melanocarpus, Meripilus, Mucor, Myceliophthora, Neocallimastix, Neurospora, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Phanerochaete, Piromyces, Poitrasia, Pseudoplectania, Pseudotrichonympha, Rhizomucor, Schizophyllum, Scytalidium, Talaromyces, Thermoascus, Thielavia, Tolypocladium, Trichoderma, Trichophaea, Verticillium, Volvariella, or Xylaria lipase.

In another aspect, the parent is a Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces diastaticus, Saccharomyces douglasii, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces norbensis, or Saccharomyces oviformis lipase.

In another aspect, the parent is an Acremonium cellulolyticus, Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus japonicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Chrysosporium mops, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Chrysosporium lucknowense, Chrysosporium merdarium, Chrysosporium pannicola, Chrysosporium queenslandicum, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium zonatum, Fusarium bactridioides, Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusarium heterosporum, Fusarium negundi, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium reticulatum, Fusarium roseum, Fusarium sambucinum, Fusarium sarcochroum, Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusarium sulphureum, Fusarium torulosum, Fusarium trichothecioides, Fusarium venenatum, Humicola grisea, Humicola insolens, Humicola lanuginosa, Irpex lacteus, Mucor miehei, Myceliophthora thermophila, Neurospora crassa, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium purpurogenum, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Thielavia achromatica, Thielavia albomyces, Thielavia albopilosa, Thielavia australeinsis, Thielavia fimeti, Thielavia microspora, Thielavia ovispora, Thielavia peruviana, Thielavia setosa, Thielavia spededonium, Thielavia subthermophila, Thielavia terrestris, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Trichoderma reesei, or Trichoderma viride lipase.

In another aspect, the parent is a Humicola lanuginosa lipase, e.g., the lipase of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the mature polypeptide thereof.

It will be understood that for the aforementioned species, the invention encompasses both the perfect and imperfect states, and other taxonomic equivalents, e.g., anamorphs, regardless of the species name by which they are known. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize the identity of appropriate equivalents.

Strains of these species are readily accessible to the public in a number of culture collections, such as the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), and Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center (NRRL).

The parent may be identified and obtained from other sources including microorganisms isolated from nature (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) or DNA samples obtained directly from natural materials (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) using the above-mentioned probes. Techniques for isolating microorganisms and DNA directly from natural habitats are well known in the art. A polynucleotide encoding a parent may then be obtained by similarly screening a genomic DNA or cDNA library of another microorganism or mixed DNA sample. Once a polynucleotide encoding a parent has been detected with the probe(s), the polynucleotide can be isolated or cloned by utilizing techniques that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

Preparation of Variants

The present invention also relates to a method for obtaining a lipase variant, comprising introducing into a parent lipase a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions T37, N39, or G91 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the variant has lipase activity and in comparison with the parent lipase has improved performance in the presence of an organic catalyst selected from the group consisting of organic catalysts having the following formulae:

-   -   or (c) mixtures thereof, wherein each R1 is independently a         branched alkyl group containing from 3 to 24 carbons or a linear         alkyl group containing from 1 to 24 carbons; and recovering the         variant.

In some embodiments the invention relates to a method wherein R1 is independently a branched alkyl group containing from 8 to 18 carbons or a linear alkyl group containing from 8 to 18 carbons.

In some embodiments the invention relates to a method wherein R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of 2-propylheptyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-octadecyl, iso-nonyl, iso-decyl, iso-tridecyl, and iso-pantadecyl. Preferably R1 is selected from the group consisting of 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, iso-tridecyl, and iso-pantadecyl.

The organic catalyst is typically used in an amount which provides 0.001-0.02 g of active material per liter of wash liquor or in an amount which provides 0.01 to 4.5, 0.5 to 4.0, 1.0 to 3.5, 1.5 to 3.0, or 2.0 to 2.5 ppm of active material per liter of wash liquor.

In some embodiments the invention relates to a method wherein a source of organic peroxyacids is present as a bleaching agent. The source of organic peroxyacids may be a preformed peracid or a diacyl peroxide, or it may comprise a source of hydrogen peroxide and a bleach activator.

Suitable bleaching agents include diacyl peroxides, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, pre-formed peracids and mixtures thereof.

In general, when a bleaching agent is used, the compositions of the present invention may comprise from about 0.1% to about 50% or even from about 0.1% to about 25% bleaching agent by weight of the subject cleaning composition. The bleaching agent is typically a source of organic peroxyacids or an activated peroxygen source.

When present, the peracid and/or bleach activator is generally present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 60 wt %, from about 0.5 to about 40 wt % or even from about 0.6 to about 10 wt % based on the composition. One or more hydrophobic peracids or precursors thereof may be used in combination with one or more hydrophilic peracid or precursor thereof.

The amounts of hydrogen peroxide source and peracid or bleach activator may be selected such that the molar ratio of available oxygen (from the peroxide source) to peracid is from 1:1 to 35:1, or even 2:1 to 10:1.

In some embodiments the invention relates to a method wherein the parent lipase comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 60% identity with the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; consists of the amino acid sequence of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a fragment thereof having lipase activity.

In some embodiments the invention relates to a method wherein the variant is: (a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 60% identity with the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under at least low stringency conditions with: (i) the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; or (ii) a full-length complementary strand of (i), or (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 60% identity with the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In some embodiments the invention relates to a method wherein the substitution is selected from T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q.

In some embodiments the invention relates to a method wherein the variant further comprises a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions D96, T143, A150, E210, G225, T231, N233 and P250 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In some embodiments the invention relates to a method wherein the substitution is selected from D96G, T143A, A150G, E210Q, G225R, T231R, N233R and P250R.

The variants can be prepared using any mutagenesis procedure known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis, synthetic gene construction, semi-synthetic gene construction, random mutagenesis, shuffling, etc.

Site-directed mutagenesis is a technique in which one or more (e.g., several) mutations are introduced at one or more defined sites in a polynucleotide encoding the parent.

Site-directed mutagenesis can be accomplished in vitro by PCR involving the use of oligonucleotide primers containing the desired mutation. Site-directed mutagenesis can also be performed in vitro by cassette mutagenesis involving the cleavage by a restriction enzyme at a site in the plasmid comprising a polynucleotide encoding the parent and subsequent ligation of an oligonucleotide containing the mutation in the polynucleotide. Usually the restriction enzyme that digests the plasmid and the oligonucleotide is the same, permitting sticky ends of the plasmid and the insert to ligate to one another. See, e.g., Scherer and Davis, 1979, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76: 4949-4955; and Barton et al., 1990, Nucleic Acids Res. 18: 7349-4966.

Site-directed mutagenesis can also be accomplished in vivo by methods known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0171154; Storici et al., 2001, Nature Biotechnol. 19: 773-776; Kren et al., 1998, Nat. Med. 4: 285-290; and Calissano and Macino, 1996, Fungal Genet. Newslett. 43: 15-16.

Any site-directed mutagenesis procedure can be used in the present invention. There are many commercial kits available that can be used to prepare variants.

Synthetic gene construction entails in vitro synthesis of a designed polynucleotide molecule to encode a polypeptide of interest. Gene synthesis can be performed utilizing a number of techniques, such as the multiplex microchip-based technology described by Tian et al. (2004, Nature 432: 1050-1054) and similar technologies wherein oligonucleotides are synthesized and assembled upon photo-programmable microfluidic chips.

Single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis, recombination, and/or shuffling, followed by a relevant screening procedure, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, 1988, Science 241: 53-57; Bowie and Sauer, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 2152-2156; WO 95/17413; or WO 95/22625. Other methods that can be used include error-prone PCR, phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., 1991, Biochemistry 30: 10832-10837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; WO 92/06204) and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., 1986, Gene 46: 145; Ner et al., 1988, DNA 7: 127).

Mutagenesis/shuffling methods can be combined with high-throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenized polypeptides expressed by host cells (Ness et al., 1999, Nature Biotechnology 17: 893-896). Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode active polypeptides can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequenced using standard methods in the art. These methods allow the rapid determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide.

Semi-synthetic gene construction is accomplished by combining aspects of synthetic gene construction, and/or site-directed mutagenesis, and/or random mutagenesis, and/or shuffling. Semi-synthetic construction is typified by a process utilizing polynucleotide fragments that are synthesized, in combination with PCR techniques. Defined regions of genes may thus be synthesized de novo, while other regions may be amplified using site-specific mutagenic primers, while yet other regions may be subjected to error-prone PCR or non-error prone PCR amplification. Polynucleotide subsequences may then be shuffled.

Polynucleotides

Also disclosed herein are isolated polynucleotides encoding a variant of the present invention.

Nucleic Acid Constructs

Also disclosed herein are nucleic acid constructs comprising a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the present invention operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the expression of the coding sequence in a suitable host cell under conditions compatible with the control sequences.

The polynucleotide may be manipulated in a variety of ways to provide for expression of a variant. Manipulation of the polynucleotide prior to its insertion into a vector may be desirable or necessary depending on the expression vector. The techniques for modifying polynucleotides utilizing recombinant DNA methods are well known in the art.

The control sequence may be a promoter, a polynucleotide which is recognized by a host cell for expression of the polynucleotide. The promoter contains transcriptional control sequences that mediate the expression of the variant. The promoter may be any polynucleotide that shows transcriptional activity in the host cell including mutant, truncated, and hybrid promoters, and may be obtained from genes encoding extracellular or intracellular polypeptides either homologous or heterologous to the host cell.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing transcription of the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a bacterial host cell are the promoters obtained from the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyL), Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase gene (penP), Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene (sacB), Bacillus subtilis xylA and xylB genes, Bacillus thuringiensis cryIIIA gene (Agaisse and Lereclus, 1994, Molecular Microbiology 13: 97-107), E. coli lac operon, E. coli trc promoter (Egon et al., 1988, Gene 69: 301-315), Streptomyces coelicolor agarase gene (dagA), and prokaryotic beta-lactamase gene (Villa-Kamaroff et al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75: 3727-3731), as well as the tac promoter (DeBoer et al., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80: 21-25). Further promoters are described in “Useful proteins from recombinant bacteria” in Gilbert et al., 1980, Scientific American 242: 74-94; and in Sambrook et al., 1989, supra. Examples of tandem promoters are disclosed in WO 99/43835.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing transcription of the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a filamentous fungal host cell are promoters obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulans acetamidase, Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger acid stable alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase (glaA), Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus oryzae alkaline protease, Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerase, Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease (WO 96/00787), Fusarium venenatum amyloglucosidase (WO 00/56900), Fusarium venenatum Daria (WO 00/56900), Fusarium venenatum Quinn (WO 00/56900), Rhizomucor miehei lipase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, Trichoderma reesei beta-glucosidase, Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I, Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase II, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase II, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase III, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase IV, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase V, Trichoderma reesei xylanase I, Trichoderma reesei xylanase II, Trichoderma reesei beta-xylosidase, as well as the NA2-tpi promoter (a modified promoter from an Aspergillus neutral alpha-amylase gene in which the untranslated leader has been replaced by an untranslated leader from an Aspergillus triose phosphate isomerase gene; non-limiting examples include modified promoters from an Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase gene in which the untranslated leader has been replaced by an untranslated leader from an Aspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerase gene); and mutant, truncated, and hybrid promoters thereof.

In a yeast host, useful promoters are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae galactokinase (GAL1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH1, ADH2/GAP), Saccharomyces cerevisiae triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), Saccharomyces cerevisiae metallothionein (CUP1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase. Other useful promoters for yeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, Yeast 8: 423-488.

The control sequence may also be a transcription terminator, which is recognized by a host cell to terminate transcription. The terminator sequence is operably linked to the 3′-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding the variant. Any terminator that is functional in the host cell may be used.

Preferred terminators for bacterial host cells are obtained from the genes for Bacillus clausii alkaline protease (aprH), Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase (amyL), and Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA (rrnB).

Preferred terminators for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulans anthranilate synthase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus niger alpha-glucosidase, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease.

Preferred terminators for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome C (CYC1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Other useful terminators for yeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be an mRNA stabilizer region downstream of a promoter and upstream of the coding sequence of a gene which increases expression of the gene.

Examples of suitable mRNA stabilizer regions are obtained from a Bacillus thuringiensis cryIIIA gene (WO 94/25612) and a Bacillus subtilis SP82 gene (Hue et al., 1995, Journal of Bacteriology 177: 3465-3471).

The control sequence may also be a leader, a nontranslated region of an mRNA that is important for translation by the host cell. The leader sequence is operably linked to the 5′-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding the variant. Any leader that is functional in the host cell may be used.

Preferred leaders for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase and Aspergillus nidulans triose phosphate isomerase.

Suitable leaders for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP).

The control sequence may also be a polyadenylation sequence, a sequence operably linked to the 3′-terminus of the variant-encoding sequence and, when transcribed, is recognized by the host cell as a signal to add polyadenosine residues to transcribed mRNA. Any polyadenylation sequence that is functional in the host cell may be used.

Preferred polyadenylation sequences for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulans anthranilate synthase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus niger alpha-glucosidase, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease.

Useful polyadenylation sequences for yeast host cells are described by Guo and Sherman, 1995, Mol. Cellular. Biol. 15: 5983-5990.

The control sequence may also be a signal peptide coding region that encodes a signal peptide linked to the N-terminus of a variant and directs the variant into the cell's secretory pathway. The 5′-end of the coding sequence of the polynucleotide may inherently contain a signal peptide coding sequence naturally linked in translation reading frame with the segment of the coding sequence that encodes the variant. Alternatively, the 5′-end of the coding sequence may contain a signal peptide coding sequence that is foreign to the coding sequence. A foreign signal peptide coding sequence may be required where the coding sequence does not naturally contain a signal peptide coding sequence. Alternatively, a foreign signal peptide coding sequence may simply replace the natural signal peptide coding sequence in order to enhance secretion of the variant. However, any signal peptide coding sequence that directs the expressed variant into the secretory pathway of a host cell may be used.

Effective signal peptide coding sequences for bacterial host cells are the signal peptide coding sequences obtained from the genes for Bacillus NCIB 11837 maltogenic amylase, Bacillus licheniformis subtilisin, Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamase, Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus neutral proteases (nprT, nprS, nprM), and Bacillus subtilis prsA. Further signal peptides are described by Simonen and Palva, 1993, Microbiological Reviews 57: 109-137.

Effective signal peptide coding sequences for filamentous fungal host cells are the signal peptide coding sequences obtained from the genes for Aspergillus niger neutral amylase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Humicola insolens cellulase, Humicola insolens endoglucanase V, Humicola lanuginosa lipase, and Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase.

Useful signal peptides for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor and Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase. Other useful signal peptide coding sequences are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be a propeptide coding sequence that encodes a propeptide positioned at the N-terminus of a variant. The resultant polypeptide is known as a proenzyme or propolypeptide (or a zymogen in some cases). A propolypeptide is generally inactive and can be converted to an active polypeptide by catalytic or autocatalytic cleavage of the propeptide from the propolypeptide. The propeptide coding sequence may be obtained from the genes for Bacillus subtilis alkaline protease (aprE), Bacillus subtilis neutral protease (nprT), Myceliophthora thermophila laccase (WO 95/33836), Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor.

Where both signal peptide and propeptide sequences are present, the propeptide sequence is positioned next to the N-terminus of the variant and the signal peptide sequence is positioned next to the N-terminus of the propeptide sequence.

It may also be desirable to add regulatory sequences that regulate expression of the variant relative to the growth of the host cell. Examples of regulatory systems are those that cause expression of the gene to be turned on or off in response to a chemical or physical stimulus, including the presence of a regulatory compound. Regulatory systems in prokaryotic systems include the lac, tac, and trp operator systems. In yeast, the ADH2 system or GALL system may be used. In filamentous fungi, the Aspergillus niger glucoamylase promoter, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA alpha-amylase promoter, and Aspergillus oryzae glucoamylase promoter may be used. Other examples of regulatory sequences are those that allow for gene amplification. In eukaryotic systems, these regulatory sequences include the dihydrofolate reductase gene that is amplified in the presence of methotrexate, and the metallothionein genes that are amplified with heavy metals. In these cases, the polynucleotide encoding the variant would be operably linked with the regulatory sequence.

Expression Vectors

The present invention also relates to recombinant expression vectors comprising a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the present invention, a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals. The various nucleotide and control sequences may be joined together to produce a recombinant expression vector that may include one or more convenient restriction sites to allow for insertion or substitution of the polynucleotide encoding the variant at such sites. Alternatively, the polynucleotide may be expressed by inserting the polynucleotide or a nucleic acid construct comprising the polynucleotide into an appropriate vector for expression. In creating the expression vector, the coding sequence is located in the vector so that the coding sequence is operably linked with the appropriate control sequences for expression.

The recombinant expression vector may be any vector (e.g., a plasmid or virus) that can be conveniently subjected to recombinant DNA procedures and can bring about expression of the polynucleotide. The choice of the vector will typically depend on the compatibility of the vector with the host cell into which the vector is to be introduced. The vector may be a linear or closed circular plasmid.

The vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e., a vector that exists as an extrachromosomal entity, the replication of which is independent of chromosomal replication, e.g., a plasmid, an extrachromosomal element, a minichromosome, or an artificial chromosome. The vector may contain any means for assuring self-replication. Alternatively, the vector may be one that, when introduced into the host cell, is integrated into the genome and replicated together with the chromosome(s) into which it has been integrated. Furthermore, a single vector or plasmid or two or more vectors or plasmids that together contain the total DNA to be introduced into the genome of the host cell, or a transposon, may be used.

The vector preferably contains one or more selectable markers that permit easy selection of transformed, transfected, transduced, or the like cells. A selectable marker is a gene the product of which provides for biocide or viral resistance, resistance to heavy metals, prototrophy to auxotrophs, and the like.

Examples of bacterial selectable markers are Bacillus licheniformis or Bacillus subtilis dal genes, or markers that confer antibiotic resistance such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, neomycin, spectinomycin or tetracycline resistance. Suitable markers for yeast host cells include, but are not limited to, ADE2, HIS3, LEU2, LYS2, MET3, TRP1, and URA3. Selectable markers for use in a filamentous fungal host cell include, but are not limited to, amdS (acetamidase), argB (ornithine carbamoyltransferase), bar (phosphinothricin acetyltransferase), hph (hygromycin phosphotransferase), niaD (nitrate reductase), pyrG (orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase), sC (sulfate adenyltransferase), and trpC (anthranilate synthase), as well as equivalents thereof. Preferred for use in an Aspergillus cell are Aspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae amdS and pyrG genes and a Streptomyces hygroscopicus bar gene.

The vector preferably contains an element(s) that permits integration of the vector into the host cell's genome or autonomous replication of the vector in the cell independent of the genome.

For integration into the host cell genome, the vector may rely on the polynucleotide's sequence encoding the variant or any other element of the vector for integration into the genome by homologous or non-homologous recombination. Alternatively, the vector may contain additional polynucleotides for directing integration by homologous recombination into the genome of the host cell at a precise location(s) in the chromosome(s). To increase the likelihood of integration at a precise location, the integrational elements should contain a sufficient number of nucleic acids, such as 100 to 10,000 base pairs, 400 to 10,000 base pairs, and 800 to 10,000 base pairs, which have a high degree of sequence identity to the corresponding target sequence to enhance the probability of homologous recombination. The integrational elements may be any sequence that is homologous with the target sequence in the genome of the host cell. Furthermore, the integrational elements may be non-encoding or encoding polynucleotides. On the other hand, the vector may be integrated into the genome of the host cell by non-homologous recombination.

For autonomous replication, the vector may further comprise an origin of replication enabling the vector to replicate autonomously in the host cell in question. The origin of replication may be any plasmid replicator mediating autonomous replication that functions in a cell. The term “origin of replication” or “plasmid replicator” means a polynucleotide that enables a plasmid or vector to replicate in vivo.

Examples of bacterial origins of replication are the origins of replication of plasmids pBR322, pUC19, pACYC177, and pACYC184 permitting replication in E. coli, and pUB110, pE194, pTA1060, and pAMB1 permitting replication in Bacillus.

Examples of origins of replication for use in a yeast host cell are the 2 micron origin of replication, ARS1, ARS4, the combination of ARS1 and CEN3, and the combination of ARS4 and CEN6.

Examples of origins of replication useful in a filamentous fungal cell are AMA1 and ANS1 (Gems et al., 1991, Gene 98: 61-67; Cullen et al., 1987, Nucleic Acids Res. 15: 9163-9175; WO 00/24883). Isolation of the AMA1 gene and construction of plasmids or vectors comprising the gene can be accomplished according to the methods disclosed in WO 00/24883.

More than one copy of a polynucleotide of the present invention may be inserted into a host cell to increase production of a variant. An increase in the copy number of the polynucleotide can be obtained by integrating at least one additional copy of the sequence into the host cell genome or by including an amplifiable selectable marker gene with the polynucleotide where cells containing amplified copies of the selectable marker gene, and thereby additional copies of the polynucleotide, can be selected for by cultivating the cells in the presence of the appropriate selectable agent.

The procedures used to ligate the elements described above to construct the recombinant expression vectors of the present invention are well known to one skilled in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

Host Cells

The present invention also relates to recombinant host cells, comprising a polynucleotide encoding a variant of the present invention operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the production of a variant of the present invention. A construct or vector comprising a polynucleotide is introduced into a host cell so that the construct or vector is maintained as a chromosomal integrant or as a self-replicating extra-chromosomal vector as described earlier. The term “host cell” encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to the parent cell due to mutations that occur during replication. The choice of a host cell will to a large extent depend upon the gene encoding the variant and its source.

The host cell may be any cell useful in the recombinant production of a variant, e.g., a prokaryote or a eukaryote.

The prokaryotic host cell may be any Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterium. Gram-positive bacteria include, but are not limited to, Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Geobacillus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Oceanobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Streptomyces. Gram-negative bacteria include, but are not limited to, Campylobacter, E. coli, Flavobacterium, Fusobacterium, Helicobacter, Ilyobacter, Neisseria, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Ureaplasma.

The bacterial host cell may be any Bacillus cell including, but not limited to, Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus lentus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus thuringiensis cells.

The bacterial host cell may also be any Streptococcus cell including, but not limited to, Streptococcus equisimilis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus uberis, and Streptococcus equi subsp. Zooepidemicus cells.

The bacterial host cell may also be any Streptomyces cell, including, but not limited to, Streptomyces achromogenes, Streptomyces avermitilis, Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces griseus, and Streptomyces lividans cells.

The introduction of DNA into a Bacillus cell may be effected by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Chang and Cohen, 1979, Mol. Gen. Genet. 168: 111-115), competent cell transformation (see, e.g., Young and Spizizen, 1961, J. Bacteriol. 81: 823-829, or Dubnau and Davidoff-Abelson, 1971, J. Mol. Biol. 56: 209-221), electroporation (see, e.g., Shigekawa and Dower, 1988, Biotechniques 6: 742-751), or conjugation (see, e.g., Koehler and Thorne, 1987, J. Bacteriol. 169: 5271-5278). The introduction of DNA into an E. coli cell may be effected by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Hanahan, 1983, J. Mol. Biol. 166: 557-580) or electroporation (see, e.g., Dower et al., 1988, Nucleic Acids Res. 16: 6127-6145). The introduction of DNA into a Streptomyces cell may be effected by protoplast transformation, electroporation (see, e.g., Gong et al., 2004, Folia Microbiol. (Praha) 49: 399-405), conjugation (see, e.g., Mazodier et al., 1989, J. Bacteriol. 171: 3583-3585), or transduction (see, e.g., Burke et al., 2001, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98: 6289-6294). The introduction of DNA into a Pseudomonas cell may be effected by electroporation (see, e.g., Choi et al., 2006, J. Microbiol. Methods 64: 391-397), or conjugation (see, e.g., Pinedo and Smets, 2005, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 51-57). The introduction of DNA into a Streptococcus cell may be effected by natural competence (see, e.g., Perry and Kuramitsu, 1981, Infect. Immun. 32: 1295-1297), protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Catt and Jollick, 1991, Microbios 68: 189-207), electroporation (see, e.g., Buckley et al., 1999, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 3800-3804) or conjugation (see, e.g., Clewell, 1981, Microbiol. Rev. 45: 409-436). However, any method known in the art for introducing DNA into a host cell can be used.

The host cell may also be a eukaryote, such as a mammalian, insect, plant, or fungal cell.

The host cell may be a fungal cell. “Fungi” as used herein includes the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota as well as the Oomycota and all mitosporic fungi (as defined by Hawksworth et al., In, Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of The Fungi, 8th edition, 1995, CAB International, University Press, Cambridge, UK).

The fungal host cell may be a yeast cell. “Yeast” as used herein includes ascosporogenous yeast (Endomycetales), basidiosporogenous yeast, and yeast belonging to the Fungi Imperfecti (Blastomycetes). Since the classification of yeast may change in the future, for the purposes of this invention, yeast shall be defined as described in Biology and Activities of Yeast (Skinner, Passmore, and Davenport, editors, Soc. App. Bacteriol. Symposium Series No. 9, 1980).

The yeast host cell may be a Candida, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, or Yarrowia cell such as a Kluyveromyces lactis, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces diastaticus, Saccharomyces douglasii, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces norbensis, Saccharomyces oviformis, or Yarrowia lipolytica cell.

The fungal host cell may be a filamentous fungal cell. “Filamentous fungi” include all filamentous forms of the subdivision Eumycota and Oomycota (as defined by Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra). The filamentous fungi are generally characterized by a mycelial wall composed of chitin, cellulose, glucan, chitosan, mannan, and other complex polysaccharides. Vegetative growth is by hyphal elongation and carbon catabolism is obligately aerobic. In contrast, vegetative growth by yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is by budding of a unicellular thallus and carbon catabolism may be fermentative.

The filamentous fungal host cell may be an Acremonium, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Bjerkandera, Ceriporiopsis, Chrysosporium, Coprinus, Coriolus, Cryptococcus, Filibasidium, Fusarium, Humicola, Magnaporthe, Mucor, Myceliophthora, Neocallimastix, Neurospora, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Phanerochaete, Phlebia, Piromyces, Pleurotus, Schizophyllum, Talaromyces, Thermoascus, Thielavia, Tolypocladium, Trametes, or Trichoderma cell.

For example, the filamentous fungal host cell may be an Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus japonicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Bjerkandera adusta, Ceriporiopsis aneirina, Ceriporiopsis caregiea, Ceriporiopsis gilvescens, Ceriporiopsis pannocinta, Ceriporiopsis rivulosa, Ceriporiopsis subrufa, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, Chrysosporium mops, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Chrysosporium lucknowense, Chrysosporium merdarium, Chrysosporium pannicola, Chrysosporium queenslandicum, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium zonatum, Coprinus cinereus, Coriolus hirsutus, Fusarium bactridioides, Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusarium heterosporum, Fusarium negundi, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium reticulatum, Fusarium roseum, Fusarium sambucinum, Fusarium sarcochroum, Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusarium sulphureum, Fusarium torulosum, Fusarium trichothecioides, Fusarium venenatum, Humicola insolens, Humicola lanuginosa, Mucor miehei, Myceliophthora thermophila, Neurospora crassa, Penicillium purpurogenum, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Phlebia radiata, Pleurotus eryngii, Thielavia terrestris, Trametes villosa, Trametes versicolor, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Trichoderma reesei, or Trichoderma viride cell.

Fungal cells may be transformed by a process involving protoplast formation, transformation of the protoplasts, and regeneration of the cell wall in a manner known per se. Suitable procedures for transformation of Aspergillus and Trichoderma host cells are described in EP 238023, Yelton et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 1470-1474, and Christensen et al., 1988, Bio/Technology 6: 1419-1422. Suitable methods for transforming Fusarium species are described by Malardier et al., 1989, Gene 78: 147-156, and WO 96/00787. Yeast may be transformed using the procedures described by Becker and Guarente, In Abelson, J. N. and Simon, M. I., editors, Guide to Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology, Methods in Enzymology, Volume 194, pp 182-187, Academic Press, Inc., New York; Ito et al., 1983, J. Bacteriol. 153: 163; and Hinnen et al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75: 1920.

Methods of Production

Also disclosed herein are methods of producing a variant, comprising: (a) cultivating a host cell of the present invention under conditions suitable for expression of the variant; and (b) recovering the variant.

The host cells are cultivated in a nutrient medium suitable for production of the variant using methods known in the art. For example, the cell may be cultivated by shake flask cultivation, or small-scale or large-scale fermentation (including continuous, batch, fed-batch, or solid state fermentations) in laboratory or industrial fermentors performed in a suitable medium and under conditions allowing the variant to be expressed and/or isolated. The cultivation takes place in a suitable nutrient medium comprising carbon and nitrogen sources and inorganic salts, using procedures known in the art. Suitable media are available from commercial suppliers or may be prepared according to published compositions (e.g., in catalogues of the American Type Culture Collection). If the variant is secreted into the nutrient medium, the variant can be recovered directly from the medium. If the variant is not secreted, it can be recovered from cell lysates.

The variant may be detected using methods known in the art that are specific for the variants. These detection methods include, but are not limited to, use of specific antibodies, formation of an enzyme product, or disappearance of an enzyme substrate. For example, an enzyme assay may be used to determine the activity of the variant.

The variant may be recovered using methods known in the art. For example, the variant may be recovered from the nutrient medium by conventional procedures including, but not limited to, collection, centrifugation, filtration, extraction, spray-drying, evaporation, or precipitation.

The variant may be purified by a variety of procedures known in the art including, but not limited to, chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity, hydrophobic, chromatofocusing, and size exclusion), electrophoretic procedures (e.g., preparative isoelectric focusing), differential solubility (e.g., ammonium sulfate precipitation), SDS-PAGE, or extraction (see, e.g., Protein Purification, Janson and Ryden, editors, VCH Publishers, New York, 1989) to obtain substantially pure variants.

In an alternative aspect, the variant is not recovered, but rather a host cell of the present invention expressing the variant is used as a source of the variant.

Compositions

Also disclosed herein are particulate compositions as described in EP11170520 comprising a lipase variant, comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the variant has lipase activity.

In some embodiments the particulate composition comprises: (a) particles comprising a source of organic peroxyacids; and (b) particles comprising a bleach catalyst; and (c) particles comprising (i) a core comprising an enzyme surrounded by (ii) a delayed-release coating, wherein the enzyme is a lipase variant, comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the variant has lipase activity.

In some embodiments the particulate composition comprises: (a) particles comprising a source of organic peroxyacids; and (b) particles comprising a bleach catalyst; and (c) particles comprising (i) a core comprising an enzyme which is a first-wash lipolytic enzyme surrounded by (ii) a delayed-release coating, wherein the a lipase variant, comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the variant has lipase activity.

Uses

Also disclosed herein is use of a lipase variant, comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the variant has lipase activity, for preparing lipase particles as described in EP11170520.

In some embodiments the method of preparing lipase particles, comprises: (a) testing the bleach-catalyst sensitivity of at least one enzyme by determining the wash performance for a combination of the enzyme with a bleach catalyst and a source of organic peroxyacids, and comparing with the performance without the bleach catalyst, to identify a bleach-catalyst sensitive enzyme; (b) providing a core comprising the sensitive enzyme, and surrounding the core with a delayed-release coating, wherein the at least one enzyme is a lipase variant, comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Preferably the lipase is present in the composition in amounts from 0.00001% to 2%, more preferably from to 0.0001% to 0.02%, most preferably from 0.001% to 0.01% wt %. Typically the cleaning and/or treatment composition is present in water in an amount from 0.001 to 5%, such that the preferred lipase variant levels in the aqueous treatment step is form 0.000001 to 1000 ppm.

Bleach Component

The bleach component suitable for incorporation in the methods and compositions of the invention comprise one or a mixture of more than one bleach components. Suitable bleach components include bleaching catalysts, photobleaches, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, pre-formed peracids and mixtures thereof. In general, when a bleach component is used, the compositions of the present invention may comprise from about 0.00001 to 90 wt %, preferably 0.0001% to about 50% or even from about 0.001% to about 25% bleach component by weight of the subject cleaning composition. Examples of suitable bleach components include:

(1) Pre-formed peracids: Suitable preformed peracids include, but are not limited to, compounds selected from the group consisting of pre-formed peroxyacids or salts thereof, typically either a peroxycarboxylic acid or salt thereof, or a peroxysulphonic acid or salt thereof.

The pre-formed peroxyacid or salt thereof is preferably a peroxycarboxylic acid or salt thereof, typically having a chemical structure corresponding to the following chemical formula:

wherein: R¹⁴ is selected from alkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups; the R¹⁴ group can be linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted; and Y is any suitable counter-ion that achieves electric charge neutrality, preferably Y is selected from hydrogen, sodium or potassium. Preferably, R¹⁴ is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C₆₋₉ alkyl. Preferably, the peroxyacid or salt thereof is selected from peroxyhexanoic acid, peroxyheptanoic acid, peroxyoctanoic acid, peroxynonanoic acid, peroxydecanoic acid, any salt thereof, or any combination thereof. Particularly preferred peroxyacids are phthalimido-peroxy-alkanoic acids, in particular ε-phthahlimido peroxy hexanoic acid (PAP). Preferably, the peroxyacid or salt thereof has a melting point in the range of from 30° C. to 60° C.

The pre-formed peroxyacid or salt thereof can also be a peroxysulphonic acid or salt thereof, typically having a chemical structure corresponding to the following chemical formula:

wherein: R¹⁵ is selected from alkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic groups; the R¹⁵ group can be linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted; and Z is any suitable counter-ion that achieves electric charge neutrality, preferably Z is selected from hydrogen, sodium or potassium. Preferably R¹⁵ is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C₆₋₉ alkyl. Preferably such bleach components may be present in the compositions of the invention in an amount from 0.01 to 50%, most preferably from 0.1% to 20%.

(2) Sources of hydrogen peroxide include for example, inorganic perhydrate salts, including alkali metal salts such as sodium salts of perborate (usually mono- or tetra-hydrate), percarbonate, persulphate, perphosphate, persilicate salts and mixtures thereof. In one aspect of the invention the inorganic perhydrate salts such as those selected from the group consisting of sodium salts of perborate, percarbonate and mixtures thereof. When employed, inorganic perhydrate salts are typically present in amounts of from 0.05 to 40 wt %, or 1 to 30 wt % of the overall composition and are typically incorporated into such compositions as a crystalline solid that may be coated. Suitable coatings include, inorganic salts such as alkali metal silicate, carbonate or borate salts or mixtures thereof, or organic materials such as water-soluble or dispersible polymers, waxes, oils or fatty soaps. Preferably such bleach components may be present in the compositions of the invention in an amount from 0.01 to 50%, most preferably from 0.1% to 20%. (3) Suitable bleach activators are those having R—(C═O)-L wherein R is an alkyl group, optionally branched, having, when the bleach activator is hydrophobic, from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, or from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and, when the bleach activator is hydrophilic, less than 6 carbon atoms or even less than 4 carbon atoms; and L is leaving group. Examples of suitable leaving groups are benzoic acid and derivatives thereof—especially benzene sulphonate. Suitable bleach activators include dodecanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate, decanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate, decanoyl oxybenzoic acid or salts thereof, 3,5,5-trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate, tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) and nonanoyloxybenzene sulphonate (NOBS). Suitable bleach activators are also disclosed in WO 98/17767. While any suitable bleach activator may be employed, in one aspect of the invention the subject cleaning composition may comprise NOBS, TAED or mixtures thereof. When present, the peracid and/or bleach activator is generally present in the consumer product in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 60 wt %, from about 0.5 to about 40 wt % or even from about 0.6 to about 10 wt % based on the fabric and home care product. One or more hydrophobic peracids or precursors thereof may be used in combination with one or more hydrophilic peracid or precursor thereof. Preferably such bleach components may be present in the compositions of the invention in an amount from 0.01 to 50%, most preferably from 0.1% to 20%.

The amounts of hydrogen peroxide source and peracid or bleach activator may be selected such that the molar ratio of available oxygen (from the peroxide source) to peracid is from 1:1 to 35:1, or even 2:1 to 10:1.

(4) Diacyl peroxides—preferred diacyl peroxide bleaching species include those selected from diacyl peroxides of the general formula:

R¹—C(O)—OO—(O)C—R²

in which R¹ represents a C₆-C₁₈ alkyl, preferably C₆-C₁₂ alkyl group containing a linear chain of at least 5 carbon atoms and optionally containing one or more substituents (e.g. —N⁺(CH₃)₃, —COOH or —CN) and/or one or more interrupting moieties (e.g. —CONH— or —CH═CH—) interpolated between adjacent carbon atoms of the alkyl radical, and R² represents an aliphatic group compatible with a peroxide moiety, such that R¹ and R² together contain a total of 8 to 30 carbon atoms. In one preferred aspect R¹ and R² are linear unsubstituted C₆-C₁₂ alkyl chains. Most preferably R¹ and R² are identical. Diacyl peroxides, in which both R¹ and R² are C₆-C₁₂ alkyl groups, are particularly preferred. Preferably, at least one of, most preferably only one of, the R groups (R₁ or R₂), does not contain branching or pendant rings in the alpha position, or preferably neither in the alpha nor beta positions or most preferably in none of the alpha or beta or gamma positions. In one further preferred embodiment the DAP may be asymmetric, such that preferably the hydrolysis of R1 acyl group is rapid to generate peracid, but the hydrolysis of R2 acyl group is slow.

The tetraacyl peroxide bleaching species is preferably selected from tetraacyl peroxides of the general formula:

R³—C(O)—OO—C(O)—(CH₂)n-C(O)—OO—C(O)—R³

in which R³ represents a C₁-C₉ alkyl, preferably C₃-C₇ group and n represents an integer from 2 to 12, preferably 4 to 10 inclusive.

Preferably, the diacyl and/or tetraacyl peroxide bleaching species is present in an amount sufficient to provide at least 0.5 ppm, more preferably at least 10 ppm, and even more preferably at least 50 ppm by weight of the wash liquor. In a preferred embodiment, the bleaching species is present in an amount sufficient to provide from about 0.5 to about 300 ppm, more preferably from about 30 to about 150 ppm by weight of the wash liquor.

Preferably the bleach component comprises a bleach catalyst (5 and 6).

(5) Preferred are organic (non-metal) bleach catalysts include bleach catalyst capable of accepting an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and/or salt thereof, and transferring the oxygen atom to an oxidizeable substrate. Suitable bleach catalysts include, but are not limited to: iminium cations and polyions; iminium zwitterions; modified amines; modified amine oxides; N-sulphonyl imines; N-phosphonyl imines; N-acyl imines; thiadiazole dioxides; perfluoroimines; cyclic sugar ketones and mixtures thereof.

Suitable iminium cations and polyions include, but are not limited to, N-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium tetrafluoroborate, prepared as described in Tetrahedron (1992), 49(2), 423-38 (see, for example, compound 4, p. 433); N-methyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium p-toluene sulphonate, prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,569 (see, for example, Column 11, Example 1); and N-octyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium p-toluene sulphonate, prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,568 (see, for example, Column 10, Example 3).

Suitable iminium zwitterions include, but are not limited to, N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium, inner salt, prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,282 (see, for example, Column 31, Example II); N-[2-(sulphooxy)dodecyl]-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium, inner salt, prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,614 (see, for example, Column 32, Example V); 2-[3-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-2-(sulphooxy)propyl]-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium, inner salt, prepared as described in WO05/047264 (see, for example, page 18, Example 8), and 2-[3-[(2-butyloctyl)oxy]-2-(sulphooxy)propyl]-3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium, inner salt.

Suitable modified amine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-methyl-1-isoquinolinol, which can be made according to the procedures described in Tetrahedron Letters (1987), 28(48), 6061-6064. Suitable modified amine oxide oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, sodium 1-hydroxy-N-oxy-N-[2-(sulphooxy)decyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline.

Suitable N-sulphonyl imine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, 3-methyl-1,2-benzisothiazole 1,1-dioxide, prepared according to the procedure described in the Journal of Organic Chemistry (1990), 55(4), 1254-61.

Suitable N-phosphonyl imine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, [R-(E)]-N-[(2-chloro-5-nitrophenyl)methylene]-P-phenyl-P-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-phosphinic amide, which can be made according to the procedures described in the Journal of the Chemical Society, Chemical Communications (1994), (22), 2569-70.

Suitable N-acyl imine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, [N(E)]-N-(phenylmethylene)acetamide, which can be made according to the procedures described in Polish Journal of Chemistry (2003), 77(5), 577-590.

Suitable thiadiazole dioxide oxygen transfer catalysts include but are not limited to, 3-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5-thiadiazole 1,1-dioxide, which can be made according to the procedures described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,599 (Column 9, Example 2).

Suitable perfluoroimine oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, (Z)-2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-N-(nonafluorobutyl)butanimidoyl fluoride, which can be made according to the procedures described in Tetrahedron Letters (1994), 35(34), 6329-30.

Suitable cyclic sugar ketone oxygen transfer catalysts include, but are not limited to, 1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-D-erythro-2,3-hexodiuro-2,6-pyranose as prepared in U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,085 (Column 12, Example 1).

Preferably, the bleach catalyst comprises an iminium and/or carbonyl functional group and is typically capable of forming an oxaziridinium and/or dioxirane functional group upon acceptance of an oxygen atom, especially upon acceptance of an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and/or salt thereof. Preferably, the bleach catalyst comprises an oxaziridinium functional group and/or is capable of forming an oxaziridinium functional group upon acceptance of an oxygen atom, especially upon acceptance of an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and/or salt thereof. Preferably, the bleach catalyst comprises a cyclic iminium functional group, preferably wherein the cyclic moiety has a ring size of from five to eight atoms (including the nitrogen atom), preferably six atoms. Preferably, the bleach catalyst comprises an aryliminium functional group, preferably a bi-cyclic aryliminium functional group, preferably a 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium functional group. Typically, the imine functional group is a quaternary imine functional group and is typically capable of forming a quaternary oxaziridinium functional group upon acceptance of an oxygen atom, especially upon acceptance of an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and/or salt thereof. In another aspect, the detergent composition comprises a bleach component having a log P_(o/w), no greater than 0, no greater than −0.5, no greater than −1.0, no greater than −1.5, no greater than −2.0, no greater than −2.5, no greater than −3.0, or even no greater than −3.5. The method for determining log P_(o/w), is described in more detail below.

Typically, the bleach ingredient is capable of generating a bleaching species having a X_(SO) of from 0.01 to about 0.30, from 0.05 to about 0.25, or even from about 0.10 to 0.20. The method for determining X₅₀ is described in more detail below. For example, bleaching ingredients having an isoquinolinium structure are capable of generating a bleaching species that has an oxaziridinium structure. In this example, the X₅₀ is that of the oxaziridinium bleaching species.

Preferably, the bleach catalyst has a chemical structure corresponding to the following chemical formula

wherein: n and m are independently from 0 to 4, preferably n and m are both 0; each R¹ is independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, heterocyclic ring, fused heterocyclic ring, nitro, halo, cyano, sulphonato, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic, and carboalkoxy radicals; and any two vicinal R¹ substituents may combine to form a fused aryl, fused carbocyclic or fused heterocyclic ring; each R² is independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted radical independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylenes, heterocyclic ring, alkoxys, arylcarbonyl groups, carboxyalkyl groups and amide groups; any R² may be joined together with any other of R² to form part of a common ring; any geminal R² may combine to form a carbonyl; and any two R² may combine to form a substituted or unsubstituted fused unsaturated moiety; R³ is a C₁ to C₂₀ substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen or the moiety Q_(t)-A, wherein: Q is a branched or unbranched alkylene, t=0 or 1 and A is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of OSO₃ ⁻, SO₃ ⁻, CO₂ ⁻, OCO₂ ⁻, OPO₃ ²⁻, OPO₃H⁻ and OPO₂ ⁻; R⁵ is hydrogen or the moiety —CR¹¹R¹²—Y-G_(b)-Y_(c)—[(CR⁹R¹⁰)_(y)—O]_(k)—R⁸, wherein: each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, N—H, or N—R⁸; and each R⁸ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, said moieties being substituted or unsubstituted, and whether substituted or unsubstituted said moieties having less than 21 carbons; each G is independently selected from the group consisting of CO, SO₂, SO, PO and PO₂; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C₁-C₄ alkyl; R¹¹ and R¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl, or when taken together may join to form a carbonyl; b=0 or 1; c can=0 or 1, but c must=0 if b=0; y is an integer from 1 to 6; k is an integer from 0 to 20; R⁶ is H, or an alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl moiety; said moieties being substituted or unsubstituted; and X, if present, is a suitable charge balancing counterion, preferably X is present when R⁴ is hydrogen, suitable X, include but are not limited to: chloride, bromide, sulphate, methosulphate, sulphonate, p-toluenesulphonate, borontetraflouride and phosphate.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the bleach catalyst has a structure corresponding to general formula below:

wherein R¹³ is a branched alkyl group containing from three to 24 carbon atoms (including the branching carbon atoms) or a linear alkyl group containing from one to 24 carbon atoms; preferably R¹³ is a branched alkyl group containing from eight to 18 carbon atoms or linear alkyl group containing from eight to eighteen carbon atoms; preferably R¹³ is selected from the group consisting of 2-propylheptyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-octadecyl, iso-nonyl, iso-decyl, iso-tridecyl and iso-pentadecyl; preferably R¹³ is selected from the group consisting of 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, iso-tridecyl and iso-pentadecyl.

Preferably the bleach component comprises a source of peracid in addition to bleach catalyst, particularly organic bleach catalyst. The source of peracid may be selected from (a) pre-formed peracid; (b) percarbonate, perborate or persulfate salt (hydrogen peroxide source) preferably in combination with a bleach activator; and (c) perhydrolase enzyme and an ester for forming peracid in situ in the presence of water in a textile or hard surface treatment step.

When present, the peracid and/or bleach activator is generally present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 60 wt %, from about 0.5 to about 40 wt % or even from about 0.6 to about 10 wt % based on the composition. One or more hydrophobic peracids or precursors thereof may be used in combination with one or more hydrophilic peracid or precursor thereof.

The amounts of hydrogen peroxide source and peracid or bleach activator may be selected such that the molar ratio of available oxygen (from the peroxide source) to peracid is from 1:1 to 35:1, or even 2:1 to 10:1.

(6) Metal-containing Bleach Catalysts—The bleach component may be provided by a catalytic metal complex. One type of metal-containing bleach catalyst is a catalyst system comprising a transition metal cation of defined bleach catalytic activity, such as copper, iron, titanium, ruthenium, tungsten, molybdenum, or manganese cations, an auxiliary metal cation having little or no bleach catalytic activity, such as zinc or aluminum cations, and a sequestrate having defined stability constants for the catalytic and auxiliary metal cations, particularly ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and water-soluble salts thereof. Such catalysts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,243. Preferred catalysts are described in WO09/839,406, U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,351 and WO00/012667. Particularly preferred are transition metal catalyst or ligands therefore that are cross-bridged polydentate N-donor ligands. If desired, the compositions herein can be catalyzed by means of a manganese compound. Such compounds and levels of use are well known in the art and include, for example, the manganese-based catalysts disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,282. Cobalt bleach catalysts useful herein are known, and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,936; U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,967. Such cobalt catalysts are readily prepared by known procedures, such as taught for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,936, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,967. Compositions herein may also suitably include a transition metal complex of ligands such as bispidones (U.S. Pat. No. 7,501,389) and/or macropolycyclic rigid ligands—abbreviated as “MRLs”. As a practical matter, and not by way of limitation, the compositions and processes herein can be adjusted to provide on the order of at least one part per hundred million of the active MRL species in the aqueous washing medium, and will typically provide from about 0.005 ppm to about 25 ppm, from about 0.05 ppm to about 10 ppm, or even from about 0.1 ppm to about 5 ppm, of the MRL in the wash liquor. Suitable transition-metals in the instant transition-metal bleach catalyst include, for example, manganese, iron and chromium. Suitable MRLs include 5,12-diethyl-1,5,8,12-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane. Suitable transition metal MRLs are readily prepared by known procedures, such as taught for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,464 and WO 00/32601. (7) Photobleaches—suitable photobleaches include for example sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine sulfonated aluminium phthalocyanines, xanthene dyes and mixtures thereof. Preferred bleach components for use in the present compositions of the invention comprise a hydrogen peroxide source, bleach activator and/or organic peroxyacid, optionally generated in situ by the reaction of a hydrogen peroxide source and bleach activator, in combination with a bleach catalyst. Preferred bleach components comprise bleach catalysts, preferably organic bleach catalysts, as described above.

Particularly preferred bleach components are the bleach catalysts in particular the organic bleach catalysts.

The compositions of the invention are in particular solid or liquid cleaning and/or treatment compositions. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the composition has a single or multi-compartment unit dose form.

Adjunct Materials

While not essential for the purposes of the present invention, the non-limiting list of adjuncts illustrated hereinafter are suitable for use in the compositions and methods herein may be desirably incorporated in certain embodiments of the invention, for example to assist or enhance cleaning performance, for treatment of the substrate to be cleaned, or to modify the aesthetics of the consumer product as is the case with perfumes, colorants, dyes or the like. The levels of any such adjuncts incorporated in any fabric and home care product are in addition to any materials previously recited for incorporation. The precise nature of these additional components, and levels of incorporation thereof, will depend on the physical form of the consumer product and the nature of the cleaning operation for which it is to be used. Suitable adjunct materials include, but are not limited to, surfactants, builders, chelating agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, dispersants, enzymes, and enzyme stabilizers, catalytic materials, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, preformed peracids, polymeric dispersing agents, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents, brighteners, suds suppressors, dyes, hueing dyes, perfumes, perfume delivery systems, structure elasticizing agents, fabric softeners, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, solvents and/or pigments. In addition to the disclosure below, suitable examples of such other adjuncts and levels of use are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,282, 6,306,812 B1 and 6,326,348 B1 that are incorporated by reference.

As stated, the adjunct ingredients are not essential to Applicants' consumer products. Thus, certain embodiments of Applicants' consumer products do not contain one or more of the following adjuncts materials: surfactants, builders, chelating agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, dispersants, additional enzymes, and enzyme stabilizers, catalytic materials, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, preformed peracids, polymeric dispersing agents, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents, brighteners, suds suppressors, dyes, perfumes, perfume delivery systems, structure elasticizing agents, fabric softeners, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, solvents and/or pigments. However, when one or more adjuncts are present, such one or more adjuncts may be present as detailed below:

Suitable Fabric Hueing Agents

The composition may comprise a fabric hueing agent. Suitable fabric hueing agents include dyes, dye-clay conjugates, and pigments. Suitable dyes include small molecule dyes and polymeric dyes. Suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of dyes falling into the Colour Index (C.I.) classifications of Direct Blue, Direct Red, Direct Violet, Acid Blue, Acid Red, Acid Violet, Basic Blue, Basic Violet and Basic Red, or mixtures thereof.

In another aspect, suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of Colour Index (Society of Dyers and Colourists, Bradford, UK) numbers Direct Violet 9, Direct Violet 35, Direct Violet 48, Direct Violet 51, Direct Violet 66, Direct Violet 99, Direct Blue 1, Direct Blue 71, Direct Blue 80, Direct Blue 279, Acid Red 17, Acid Red 73, Acid Red 88, Acid Red 150, Acid Violet 15, Acid Violet 17, Acid Violet 24, Acid Violet 43, Acid Red 52, Acid Violet 49, Acid Violet 50, Acid Blue 15, Acid Blue 17, Acid Blue 25, Acid Blue 29, Acid Blue 40, Acid Blue 45, Acid Blue 75, Acid Blue 80, Acid Blue 83, Acid Blue 90 and Acid Blue 113, Acid Black 1, Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, Basic Violet 4, Basic Violet 10, Basic Violet 35, Basic Blue 3, Basic Blue 16, Basic Blue 22, Basic Blue 47, Basic Blue 66, Basic Blue 75, Basic Blue 159 and mixtures thereof. In another aspect, suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of Colour Index (Society of Dyers and Colourists, Bradford, UK) numbers Acid Violet 17, Acid Violet 43, Acid Red 52, Acid Red 73, Acid Red 88, Acid Red 150, Acid Blue 25, Acid Blue 29, Acid Blue 45, Acid Blue 113, Acid Black 1, Direct Blue 1, Direct Blue 71, Direct Violet 51 and mixtures thereof. In another aspect, suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyes selected from the group consisting of Colour Index (Society of Dyers and Colourists, Bradford, UK) numbers Acid Violet 17, Direct Blue 71, Direct Violet 51, Direct Blue 1, Acid Red 88, Acid Red 150, Acid Blue 29, Acid Blue 113 or mixtures thereof.

Suitable polymeric dyes include polymeric dyes selected from the group consisting of polymers containing conjugated chromogens (dye-polymer conjugates) and polymers with chromogens co-polymerized into the backbone of the polymer and mixtures thereof.

In another aspect, suitable polymeric dyes include polymeric dyes selected from the group consisting of fabric-substantive colorants sold under the name of Liquitint® (Milliken, Spartanburg, S.C., USA), dye-polymer conjugates formed from at least one reactive dye and a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers comprising a moiety selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl moiety, a primary amine moiety, a secondary amine moiety, a thiol moiety and mixtures thereof. In still another aspect, suitable polymeric dyes include polymeric dyes selected from the group consisting of Liquitint® (Milliken, Spartanburg, S.C., USA) Violet CT, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) conjugated with a reactive blue, reactive violet or reactive red dye such as CMC conjugated with C.I. Reactive Blue 19, sold by Megazyme, Wicklow, Ireland under the product name AZO-CM-CELLULOSE, product code S-ACMC, alkoxylated triphenyl-methane polymeric colourants, alkoxylated thiophene polymeric colourants, and mixtures thereof.

Preferred hueing dyes include the whitening agents found in WO 08/87497 A1. These whitening agents may be characterized by the following structure (I):

wherein R₁ and R₂ can independently be selected from:

a) [(CH₂CR′HO)_(x)(CH₂CR″HO)_(y)H]

wherein R′ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH₃, CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_(z)H, and mixtures thereof; wherein R″ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_(z)H, and mixtures thereof; wherein x+y≦5; wherein y≧1; and wherein z=0 to 5;

b) R₁=alkyl, aryl or aryl alkyl and R₂═[(CH₂CR′HO)_(x)(CH₂CR″HO)_(y)H]

wherein R′ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH₃, CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_(z)H, and mixtures thereof; wherein R″ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_(z)H, and mixtures thereof; wherein x+y≦10; wherein y≧1; and wherein z=0 to 5;

c) R₁=[CH₂CH₂(OR₃)CH₂OR₄] and R₂═[CH₂CH₂(OR₃)CH₂OR₄]

wherein R₃ is selected from the group consisting of H, (CH₂CH₂O)_(z)H, and mixtures thereof; and wherein z=0 to 10;

wherein R₄ is selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₁₆)alkyl, aryl groups, and mixtures thereof; and

d) wherein R1 and R2 can independently be selected from the amino addition product of styrene oxide, glycidyl methyl ether, isobutyl glycidyl ether, isopropylglycidyl ether, t-butyl glycidyl ether, 2-ethylhexylgycidyl ether, and glycidylhexadecyl ether, followed by the addition of from 1 to 10 alkylene oxide units.

A preferred whitening agent of the present invention may be characterized by the following structure (II):

wherein R′ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH₃, CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_(z)H, and mixtures thereof; wherein R″ is selected from the group consisting of H, CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_(z)H, and mixtures thereof; wherein x+y≦5; wherein y≧1; and wherein z=0 to 5.

A further preferred whitening agent of the present invention may be characterized by the following structure (III):

typically comprising a mixture having a total of 5 EO groups. Suitable preferred molecules are those in Structure I having the following pendant groups in “part a” above:

R1 R2 R′ R″ x y R′ R″ x y a H H 3 1 H H 0 1 b H H 2 1 H H 1 1 c = b H H 1 1 H H 2 1 d = a H H 0 1 H H 3 1

Further whitening agents of use include those described in USPN 2008 34511 A1 (Unilever). A preferred agent is “Violet 13”.

Suitable dye clay conjugates include dye clay conjugates selected from the group comprising at least one cationic/basic dye and a smectite clay, and mixtures thereof. In another aspect, suitable dye clay conjugates include dye clay conjugates selected from the group consisting of one cationic/basic dye selected from the group consisting of C.I. Basic Yellow 1 through 108, C.I. Basic Orange 1 through 69, C.I. Basic Red 1 through 118, C.I. Basic Violet 1 through 51, C.I. Basic Blue 1 through 164, C.I. Basic Green 1 through 14, C.I. Basic Brown 1 through 23, CI Basic Black 1 through 11, and a clay selected from the group consisting of Montmorillonite clay, Hectorite clay, Saponite clay and mixtures thereof. In still another aspect, suitable dye clay conjugates include dye clay conjugates selected from the group consisting of: Montmorillonite Basic Blue B7 C.I. 42595 conjugate, Montmorillonite Basic Blue B9 C.I. 52015 conjugate, Montmorillonite Basic Violet V3 C.I. 42555 conjugate, Montmorillonite Basic Green G1 C.I. 42040 conjugate, Montmorillonite Basic Red R1 C.I. 45160 conjugate, Montmorillonite C.I. Basic Black 2 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Blue B7 C.I. 42595 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Blue B9 C.I. 52015 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Violet V3 C.I. 42555 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Green G1 C.I. 42040 conjugate, Hectorite Basic Red R1 C.I. 45160 conjugate, Hectorite C.I. Basic Black 2 conjugate, Saponite Basic Blue B7 C.I. 42595 conjugate, Saponite Basic Blue B9 C.I. 52015 conjugate, Saponite Basic Violet V3 C.I. 42555 conjugate, Saponite Basic Green G1 C.I. 42040 conjugate, Saponite Basic Red R1 C.I. 45160 conjugate, Saponite C.I. Basic Black 2 conjugate and mixtures thereof.

Suitable pigments include pigments selected from the group consisting of flavanthrone, indanthrone, chlorinated indanthrone containing from 1 to 4 chlorine atoms, pyranthrone, dichloropyranthrone, monobromodichloropyranthrone, dibromodichloropyranthrone, tetrabromopyranthrone, perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid diimide, wherein the imide groups may be unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C3-alkyl or a phenyl or heterocyclic radical, and wherein the phenyl and heterocyclic radicals may additionally carry substituents which do not confer solubility in water, anthrapyrimidinecarboxylic acid amides, violanthrone, isoviolanthrone, dioxazine pigments, copper phthalocyanine which may contain up to 2 chlorine atoms per molecule, polychloro-copper phthalocyanine or polybromochloro-copper phthalocyanine containing up to 14 bromine atoms per molecule and mixtures thereof.

In another aspect, suitable pigments include pigments selected from the group consisting of Ultramarine Blue (C.I. Pigment Blue 29), Ultramarine Violet (C.I. Pigment Violet 15) and mixtures thereof.

The aforementioned fabric hueing agents can be used in combination (any mixture of fabric hueing agents can be used). Suitable hueing agents are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,208,459 B2. Preferred levels of dye in compositions of the invention are 0.00001 to 0.5 wt %, or 0.0001 to 0.25 wt %.

The concentration of dyes preferred in water for the treatment and/or cleaning step is from 1 ppb to 5 ppm, preferably 10 ppb or 20 ppb to 5 ppm. In preferred compositions, the concentration of surfactant will be from 0.2 to 3 g/l.

Encapsulates

The composition may comprise an encapsulate. In one aspect, an encapsulate comprising a core, a shell having an inner and outer surface, said shell encapsulating said core.

In one aspect of said encapsulate, said core may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of perfumes; brighteners; dyes; insect repellants; silicones; waxes; flavors; vitamins; fabric softening agents; skin care agents in one aspect, paraffins; enzymes; anti-bacterial agents; bleaches; sensates; and mixtures thereof; and said shell may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes; polyamides; polyvinylalcohols, optionally containing other co-monomers; polystyrenes; polyisoprenes; polycarbonates; polyesters; polyacrylates; aminoplasts, in one aspect said aminoplast may comprise a polyureas, polyurethane, and/or polyureaurethane, in one aspect said polyurea may comprise polyoxymethyleneurea and/or melamine formaldehyde; polyolefins; polysaccharides, in one aspect said polysaccharide may comprise alginate and/or chitosan; gelatin; shellac; epoxy resins; vinyl polymers; water insoluble inorganics; silicone; and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect of said encapsulate, said core may comprise perfume.

In one aspect of said encapsulate, said shell may comprise melamine formaldehyde and/or cross linked melamine formaldehyde.

In a one aspect, suitable encapsulates may comprise a core material and a shell, said shell at least partially surrounding said core material, is disclosed. At least 75%, 85% or even 90% of said encapsulates may have a fracture strength of from about 0.2 MPa to about 10 MPa, from about 0.4 MPa to about 5 MPa, from about 0.6 MPa to about 3.5 MPa, or even from about 0.7 MPa to about 3 MPa; and a benefit agent leakage of from 0% to about 30%, from 0% to about 20%, or even from 0% to about 5%.

In one aspect, at least 75%, 85% or even 90% of said encapsulates may have a particle size of from about 1 microns to about 80 microns, about 5 microns to 60 microns, from about 10 microns to about 50 microns, or even from about 15 microns to about 40 microns.

In one aspect, at least 75%, 85% or even 90% of said encapsulates may have a particle wall thickness of from about 30 nm to about 250 nm, from about 80 nm to about 180 nm, or even from about 100 nm to about 160 nm.

In one aspect, said encapsulates' core material may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of a perfume raw material and/or optionally a material selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, including neat and/or blended vegetable oils including caster oil, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, grape oil, rapeseed, soybean oil, corn oil, palm oil, linseed oil, safflower oil, olive oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, castor oil, lemon oil and mixtures thereof; esters of vegetable oils, esters, including dibutyl adipate, dibutyl phthalate, butyl benzyl adipate, benzyl octyl adipate, tricresyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate and mixtures thereof; straight or branched chain hydrocarbons, including those straight or branched chain hydrocarbons having a boiling point of greater than about 80° C.; partially hydrogenated terphenyls, dialkyl phthalates, alkyl biphenyls, including monoisopropylbiphenyl, alkylated naphthalene, including dipropylnaphthalene, petroleum spirits, including kerosene, mineral oil and mixtures thereof; aromatic solvents, including benzene, toluene and mixtures thereof; silicone oils; and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect, said encapsulates' wall material may comprise a suitable resin including the reaction product of an aldehyde and an amine, suitable aldehydes include, formaldehyde. Suitable amines include melamine, urea, benzoguanamine, glycoluril, and mixtures thereof. Suitable melamines include, methylol melamine, methylated methylol melamine, imino melamine and mixtures thereof. Suitable ureas include, dimethylol urea, methylated dimethylol urea, urea-resorcinol, and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect, suitable formaldehyde scavengers may be employed with the encapsulates, for example, in a capsule slurry and/or added to a consumer product before, during or after the encapsulates are added to such consumer product.

Suitable capsules that can be made by following the teaching of USPA 2008/0305982 A1; and/or USPA 2009/0247449 A1. Alternatively, suitable capsules can be purchased from Appleton Papers Inc. of Appleton, Wis. USA.

In a preferred aspect the composition can also comprise a deposition aid, preferably consisting of the group comprising cationic or nonionic polymers. Suitable polymers include cationic starches, cationic hydroxyethylcellulose, polyvinylformaldehyde, locust bean gum, mannans, xyloglucans, tamarind gum, polyethyleneterephthalate and polymers containing dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, optionally with one or monomers selected from the group comprising acrylic acid and acrylamide.

Perfumes—In one aspect the composition comprises a perfume that comprises one or more perfume raw materials selected from the group consisting of 1,1′-oxybis-2-propanol; 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester; (ethoxymethoxy)cyclododecane; 1,3-nonanediol, monoacetate; (3-methylbutoxy)acetic acid, 2-propenyl ester; beta-methyl cyclododecaneethanol; 2-methyl-3-[(1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)oxy]-1-propanol; oxacyclohexadecan-2-one; alpha-methyl-benzenemethanol acetate; trans-3-ethoxy-1,1,5-trimethylcyclohexane; 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)cyclohexanol acetate; dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan; beta-methyl benzenepropanal; beta-methyl-3-(1-methylethyl)benzenepropanal; 4-phenyl-2-butanone; 2-methylbutanoic acid, ethyl ester; benzaldehyde; 2-methylbutanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester; dihydro-5-pentyl-2(3H)furanone; (2E)-1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; dodecanal; undecanal; 2-ethyl-alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzenepropanal; decanal; alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzeneethanol acetate; 2-(phenylmethylene)octanal; 2-[[3-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl]-2-methylpropylidene]amino]benzoic acid, methyl ester; 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; 2-pentylcyclopentanone; 3-oxo-2-pentyl cyclopentaneacetic acid, methyl ester; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde; 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde; 2-heptylcyclopentanone; 1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanone; (3E)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one; (3E)-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one; benzeneethanol; 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one; 4-methoxybenzaldehyde; 10-undecenal; propanoic acid, phenylmethyl ester; beta-methylbenzenepentanol; 1,1-diethoxy-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene; alpha, alpha-dimethylbenzeneethanol; (2E)-1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2-buten-1-one; acetic acid, phenylmethyl ester; cyclohexanepropanoic acid, 2-propenyl ester; hexanoic acid, 2-propenyl ester; 1,2-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)benzene; 1,5-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-one oxime; 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde; 3-buten-2-ol; 2-[[[2,4(or 3,5)-dimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl]methylene]amino]benzoic acid, methyl ester; 8-cyclohexadecen-1-one; methyl ionone; 2,6-dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol; 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol; (2E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-Octadien-1-ol; 2-hydroxy-Benzoic acid, (3Z)-3-hexenyl ester; 2-tridecenenitrile; 4-(2,2-dimethyl-6-methylenecyclohexyl)-3-methyl-3-buten-2-one; tetrahydro-4-methyl-2-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)-2H-pyran; Acetic acid, (2-methylbutoxy)-, 2-propenyl ester; Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 3-methylbutyl ester; 2-Buten-1-one, 1-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-, (Z)—; Cyclopentanecarboxylic acid, 2-hexyl-3-oxo-, methyl ester; Benzenepropanal, 4-ethyl-.alpha.,.alpha.-dimethyl-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, 3-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-; Ethanone, 1-(2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,6,8,8-tetramethyl-1H-3a,7-methanoazulen-5-yl)-, [3R-(3.alpha.,3a.beta.,7.beta.,8a.alpha.)]-; Undecanal, 2-methyl-2H-Pyran-2-one, 6-butyltetrahydro-; Benzenepropanal, 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-.alpha.-methyl-; 2(3H)-Furanone, 5-heptyldihydro-; Benzoic acid, 2-[(7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyloctylidene)amino]-, methyl; Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, phenylmethyl ester; Naphthalene, 2-methoxy-; 2-Cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hexyl-; 2(3H)-Furanone, 5-hexyldihydro-; Oxiranecarboxylic acid, 3-methyl-3-phenyl-, ethyl ester; 2-Oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 1,3,3-trimethyl-; Benzenepentanol, .gamma.-methyl-; 3-Octanol, 3,7-dimethyl-; 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienenitrile; 3,7-dimethyl-6-octen-1-ol; Terpineol acetate; 2-methyl-6-methylene-7-Octen-2-ol, dihydro derivative; 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7-Methano-1H-inden-6-ol propanoate; 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol acetate; (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol acetate; 2-ethyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl)-2-buten-1-ol; 4-(octahydro-4,7-methano-5H-inden-5-ylidene)-butanal; 3-2,4-dimethyl-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde; 1-(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-ethanone; 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid, methyl ester; 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid, hexyl ester; 2-phenoxy-ethanol; 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid, pentyl ester; 2,3-heptanedione; 2-hexen-1-ol; 6-Octen-2-ol, 2,6-dimethyl-; damascone (alpha, beta, gamma or delta or mixtures thereof), 4,7-Methano-1H-inden-6-ol, 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-, acetate; 9-Undecenal; 8-Undecenal; Isocyclocitral; Ethanone, 1-(1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, 3,5-dimethyl-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde, 2,4-dimethyl-; 1,6-Octadien-3-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-; 1,6-Octadien-3-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, acetate; Lilial (p-t-Bucinal), and Cyclopentanone, 2-[2-(4-methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)propyl]- and 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)cyclohexene and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect the composition may comprise an encapsulated perfume particle comprising either a water-soluble hydroxylic compound of melamine-formaldehyde otr modified polyvinyl alcohol. In one aspect the encapsulate comprises (a) an at least partially water-soluble solid matrix comprising one or more water-soluble hydroxylic compounds, preferably starch; and (b) a perfume oil encapsulated by the solid matrix.

In a further aspect the perfume may be pre-complexed with a polyamine, preferably a polyethylenimine so as to form a Schiff base.

Polymers

The consumer product may comprise one or more polymers. Examples are carboxymethylcellulose, poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone), poly (ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide), poly(vinylimidazole), polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic/acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid co-polymers.

The consumer product may comprise one or more amphiphilic cleaning polymers such as the compound having the following general structure: bis((C₂H₅O)(C₂H₄O)n)(CH₃)—N⁺—C_(x)H_(2x)—N⁺-(CH₃)-bis((C₂H₅O)(C₂H₄O)n), wherein n=from 20 to 30, and x=from 3 to 8, or sulphated or sulphonated variants thereof.

The consumer product may comprise amphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers which have balanced hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties such that they remove grease particles from fabrics and surfaces. Specific embodiments of the amphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers of the present invention comprise a core structure and a plurality of alkoxylate groups attached to that core structure. These may comprise alkoxylated polyalkylenimines, preferably having an inner polyethylene oxide block and an outer polypropylene oxide block.

Alkoxylated polycarboxylates such as those prepared from polyacrylates are useful herein to provide additional grease removal performance. Such materials are described in WO 91/08281 and PCT 90/01815. Chemically, these materials comprise polyacrylates having one ethoxy side-chain per every 7-8 acrylate units. The side-chains are of the formula —(CH₂CH₂O)_(m)(CH₂)_(n)CH₃ wherein m is 2-3 and n is 6-12. The side-chains are ester-linked to the polyacrylate “backbone” to provide a “comb” polymer type structure. The molecular weight can vary, but is typically in the range of about 2000 to about 50,000. Such alkoxylated polycarboxylates can comprise from about 0.05% to about 10%, by weight, of the compositions herein.

The isoprenoid-derived surfactants of the present invention, and their mixtures with other cosurfactants and other adjunct ingredients, are particularly suited to be used with an amphilic graft co-polymer, preferably the amphilic graft co-polymer comprises (i) polyethyelene glycol backbone; and (ii) and at least one pendant moiety selected from polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and mixtures thereof. A preferred amphilic graft co-polymer is Sokalan HP22, supplied from BASF. Suitable polymers include random graft copolymers, preferably a a polyvinyl acetate grafted polyethylene oxide copolymer having a polyethylene oxide backbone and multiple polyvinyl acetate side chains. The molecular weight of the polyethylene oxide backbone is preferably about 6000 and the weight ratio of the polyethylene oxide to polyvinyl acetate is about 40 to 60 and no more than 1 grafting point per 50 ethylene oxide units.

Carboxylate polymer—The consumer products of the present invention may also include one or more carboxylate polymers such as a maleate/acrylate random copolymer or polyacrylate homopolymer. In one aspect, the carboxylate polymer is a polyacrylate homopolymer having a molecular weight of from 4,000 Da to 9,000 Da, or from 6,000 Da to 9,000 Da.

Soil release polymer—The consumer products of the present invention may also include one or more soil release polymers having a structure as defined by one of the following structures (I), (II) or (III):

—[(OCHR¹—CHR²)_(a)—O—OC—Ar—CO—]_(d)  (I)

-[(OCHR³—CHR⁴)_(b)—O—OC-sAr—CO—]_(e)  (II)

—[(OCHR⁵—CHR⁶)_(c)—OR⁷]_(f)  (III)

wherein:

a, b and c are from 1 to 200;

d, e and f are from 1 to 50;

Ar is a 1,4-substituted phenylene;

sAr is 1,3-substituted phenylene substituted in position 5 with SO₃Me;

Me is Li, K, Mg/2, Ca/2, Al/3, ammonium, mono-, di-, tri-, or tetraalkylammonium wherein the alkyl groups are C₁-C₁₈ alkyl or C₂-C₁₀ hydroxyalkyl, or mixtures thereof;

R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently selected from H or C₁-C₁₈ n- or iso-alkyl; and

R⁷ is a linear or branched C₁-C₁₈ alkyl, or a linear or branched C₂-C₃₀ alkenyl, or a cycloalkyl group with 5 to 9 carbon atoms, or a C₈-C₃₀ aryl group, or a C₆-C₃₀ arylalkyl group.

Suitable soil release polymers are polyester soil release polymers such as Repel-o-tex polymers, including Repel-o-tex, SF-2 and SRP6 supplied by Rhodia. Other suitable soil release polymers include Texcare polymers, including Texcare SRA100, SRA300, SRN100, SRN170, SRN240, SRN300 and SRN325 supplied by Clariant. Other suitable soil release polymers are Marloquest polymers, such as Marloquest SL supplied by Sasol.

Cellulosic polymer—The consumer products of the present invention may also include one or more cellulosic polymers including those selected from alkyl cellulose, alkyl alkoxyalkyl cellulose, carboxyalkyl cellulose, alkyl carboxyalkyl cellulose. In one aspect, the cellulosic polymers are selected from the group comprising carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl carboxymethyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, the carboxymethyl cellulose has a degree of carboxymethyl substitution from 0.5 to 0.9 and a molecular weight from 100,000 Da to 300,000 Da.

Enzymes

The consumer products can comprise one or more enzymes which provide cleaning performance and/or fabric care benefits. Examples of suitable enzymes include, but are not limited to, hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, cellulases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, β-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, and amylases, or mixtures thereof. A typical combination is an enzyme cocktail that may comprise, for example, a protease and lipase in conjunction with amylase. When present in a consumer product, the aforementioned additional enzymes may be present at levels from about 0.00001% to about 2%, from about 0.0001% to about 1% or even from about 0.001% to about 0.5% enzyme protein by weight of the consumer product.

In one aspect preferred enzymes would include a protease. Suitable proteases include metalloproteases and serine proteases, including neutral or alkaline microbial serine proteases, such as subtilisins (EC 3.4.21.62). Suitable proteases include those of animal, vegetable or microbial origin. In one aspect, such suitable protease may be of microbial origin. The suitable proteases include chemically or genetically modified mutants of the aforementioned suitable proteases. In one aspect, the suitable protease may be a serine protease, such as an alkaline microbial protease or/and a trypsin-type protease. Examples of suitable neutral or alkaline proteases include:

(a) subtilisins (EC 3.4.21.62), including those derived from Bacillus, such as Bacillus lentus, B. alkalophilus, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus gibsonii described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,936 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,630, U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,025, U.S. Pat. No. 7,262,042 and WO09/021,867.

(b) trypsin-type or chymotrypsin-type proteases, such as trypsin (e.g., of porcine or bovine origin), including the Fusarium protease described in WO 89/06270 and the chymotrypsin proteases derived from Cellumonas described in WO 05/052161 and WO 05/052146.

(c) metalloproteases, including those derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens described in WO 07/044,993A2.

Preferred proteases include those derived from Bacillus gibsonii or Bacillus Lentus.

Suitable commercially available protease enzymes include those sold under the trade names Alcalase®, Savinase®, Primase®, Durazym®, Polarzyme®, Kannase®, Liquanase®, Liquanase Ultra®, Savinase Ultra®, Ovozyme®, Neutrase®, Everlase® and Esperase® by Novozymes A/S (Denmark), those sold under the tradename Maxatase®, Maxacal®, Maxapem®, Properase®, Purafect®, Purafect Prime®, Purafect Ox®, FN3®, FN4®, Excellase® and Purafect OXP® by Genencor International, those sold under the tradename Opticlean® and Optimase® by Solvay Enzymes, those available from Henkel/Kemira, namely BLAP (sequence shown in FIG. 29 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,604 with the following mutations S99D+S101 R+S 103A+V 104I+G159S, hereinafter referred to as BLAP), BLAP R (BLAP with S3T+V4I+V199M+V2051+L217D), BLAP X (BLAP with S3T+V4I+V2051) and BLAP F49 (BLAP with S3T+V4I+A194P+V199M+V2051+L217D)—all from Henkel/Kemira; and KAP (Bacillus alkalophilus subtilisin with mutations A230V+S256G+S259N) from Kao.

Suitable alpha-amylases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants (variants) are included. A preferred alkaline alpha-amylase is derived from a strain of Bacillus, such as Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, or other Bacillus sp., such as Bacillus sp. NCIB 12289, NCIB 12512, NCIB 12513, DSM 9375 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,818) DSM 12368, DSMZ no. 12649, KSM AP1378 (WO 97/00324), KSM K36 or KSM K38 (EP 1,022,334). Preferred amylases include:

(a) the variants described in WO 94/02597, WO 94/18314, WO96/23874 and WO 97/43424, especially the variants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions versus the enzyme listed as SEQ ID No. 2 in WO 96/23874: 15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 181, 188, 190, 197, 202, 208, 209, 243, 264, 304, 305, 391, 408, and 444.

(b) the variants described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,164 and WO99/23211, WO 96/23873, WO00/60060 and WO 06/002643, especially the variants with one or more substitutions in the following positions versus the AA560 enzyme listed as SEQ ID No. 12 in WO 06/002643:

26, 30, 33, 82, 37, 106, 118, 128, 133, 149, 150, 160, 178, 182, 186, 193, 203, 214, 231, 256, 257, 258, 269, 270, 272, 283, 295, 296, 298, 299, 303, 304, 305, 311, 314, 315, 318, 319, 339, 345, 361, 378, 383, 419, 421, 437, 441, 444, 445, 446, 447, 450, 461, 471, 482, 484, preferably that also contain the deletions of D183* and G184*.

(c) variants exhibiting at least 90% identity with SEQ ID No. 4 in WO06/002643, the wild-type enzyme from Bacillus SP722, especially variants with deletions in the 183 and 184 positions and variants described in WO 00/60060, which is incorporated herein by reference.

(d) variants exhibiting at least 95% identity with the wild-type enzyme from Bacillus sp.707 (SEQ ID NO:7 in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,562), especially those comprising one or more of the following mutations M202, M208, S255, R172, and/or M261. Preferably said amylase comprises one or more of M202L, M202V, M2025, M202T, M202I, M202Q, M202W, S255N and/or R172Q. Particularly preferred are those comprising the M202L or M202T mutations.

(e) variants described in WO 09/149,130, preferably those exhibiting at least 90% identity with SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:2 in WO 09/149,130, the wild-type enzyme from Geobacillus Stearophermophilus or a truncated version thereof.

Suitable commercially available alpha-amylases include DURAMYL®, LIQUEZYME®, TERMAMYL®, TERMAMYL ULTRA®, NATALASE®, SUPRAMYL®, STAINZYME®, STAINZYME PLUS®, FUNGAMYL® and BAN® (Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark), KEMZYM® AT 9000 Biozym Biotech Trading GmbH Wehlistrasse 27b A-1200 Wien Austria, RAPIDASE®, PURASTAR®, ENZYSIZE®, OPTISIZE HT PLUS®, POWERASE® and PURASTAR OXAM® (Genencor International Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.) and KAM® (Kao, 14-10 Nihonbashi Kayabacho, 1-chome, Chuo-ku Tokyo 103-8210, Japan). In one aspect, suitable amylases include NATALASE®, STAINZYME® and STAINZYME PLUS® and mixtures thereof.

In one aspect, such enzymes may be selected from the group consisting of: lipases, including “first cycle lipases” such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,702 B1 and US PA 2009/0217464. In one aspect, the lipase is a first-wash lipase, preferably a variant of the wild-type lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus comprising one or more of the T231R and N233R mutations. The wild-type sequence is the 269 amino acids (amino acids 23-291) of the Swissprot accession number Swiss-Prot 059952 (derived from Thermomyces lanuginosus (Humicola lanuginosa)). Preferred lipases would include those sold under the tradenames Lipex® and Lipolex®.

In one aspect, other preferred enzymes include microbial-derived endoglucanases exhibiting endo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity (E.C. 3.2.1.4), including a bacterial polypeptide endogenous to a member of the genus Bacillus which has a sequence of at least 90%, 94%, 97% and even 99% identity to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 in U.S. Pat. No. 7,141,403B2) and mixtures thereof. Suitable endoglucanases are sold under the tradenames Celluclean® and Whitezyme® (Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark).

Other preferred enzymes include pectate lyases sold under the tradenames Pectawash®, Pectaway®, Xpect® and mannanases sold under the tradenames Mannaway® (all from Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark), and Purabrite® (Genencor International Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.).

Surfactants—The compositions according to the present invention may comprise a surfactant or surfactant system wherein the surfactant can be selected from nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, semi-polar nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. When present, surfactant is typically present at a level of from about 0.1% to about 60%, from about 1% to about 50% or even from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the subject consumer product.

Suitable anionic detersive surfactants include sulphate and sulphonate detersive surfactants.

Suitable sulphonate detersive surfactants include alkyl benzene sulphonate, in one aspect, C₁₀₋₁₃ alkyl benzene sulphonate. Suitable alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS) may be obtained, by sulphonating commercially available linear alkyl benzene (LAB); suitable LAB includes low 2-phenyl LAB, such as those supplied by Sasol under the tradename Isochem® or those supplied by Petresa under the tradename Petrelab®, other suitable LAB include high 2-phenyl LAB, such as those supplied by Sasol under the tradename Hyblene®. A suitable anionic detersive surfactant is alkyl benzene sulphonate that is obtained by DETAL catalyzed process, although other synthesis routes, such as HF, may also be suitable. In one aspect a magnesium salt of LAS is used.

Suitable sulphate detersive surfactants include alkyl sulphate, in one aspect, C₈₋₁₈ alkyl sulphate, or predominantly C₁₋₂ alkyl sulphate.

Another suitable sulphate detersive surfactant is alkyl alkoxylated sulphate, in one aspect, alkyl ethoxylated sulphate, in one aspect, a C₈₋₁₈ alkyl alkoxylated sulphate, in another aspect, a C₈₋₁₈ alkyl ethoxylated sulphate, typically the alkyl alkoxylated sulphate has an average degree of alkoxylation of from 0.5 to 20, or from 0.5 to 10, typically the alkyl alkoxylated sulphate is a C₈₋₁₈ alkyl ethoxylated sulphate having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 0.5 to 10, from 0.5 to 7, from 0.5 to 5 or even from 0.5 to 3.

The alkyl sulphate, alkyl alkoxylated sulphate and alkyl benzene sulphonates may be linear or branched, substituted or un-substituted.

The detersive surfactant may be a mid-chain branched detersive surfactant, in one aspect, a mid-chain branched anionic detersive surfactant, in one aspect, a mid-chain branched alkyl sulphate and/or a mid-chain branched alkyl benzene sulphonate, for example a mid-chain branched alkyl sulphate. In one aspect, the mid-chain branches are C₁₋₄ alkyl groups, typically methyl and/or ethyl groups.

Suitable non-ionic detersive surfactants are selected from the group consisting of: C₈-C₁₈ alkyl ethoxylates, such as, NEODOL® non-ionic surfactants from Shell; C₆-C₁₂ alkyl phenol alkoxylates wherein the alkoxylate units may be ethyleneoxy units, propyleneoxy units or a mixture thereof; C₁₂-C₁₈ alcohol and C₆-C₁₂ alkyl phenol condensates with ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block polymers such as Pluronic® from BASF; C₁₄-C₂₂ mid-chain branched alcohols; C₁₄-C₂₂ mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxylates, typically having an average degree of alkoxylation of from 1 to 30; alkylpolysaccharides, in one aspect, alkylpolyglycosides; polyhydroxy fatty acid amides; ether capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants; and mixtures thereof.

Suitable non-ionic detersive surfactants include alkyl polyglucoside and/or an alkyl alkoxylated alcohol.

In one aspect, non-ionic detersive surfactants include alkyl alkoxylated alcohols, in one aspect C₈₋₁₈ alkyl alkoxylated alcohol, for example a C₈₋₁₈ alkyl ethoxylated alcohol, the alkyl alkoxylated alcohol may have an average degree of alkoxylation of from 1 to 50, from 1 to 30, from 1 to 20, or from 1 to 10. In one aspect, the alkyl alkoxylated alcohol may be a C₈₋₁₈ alkyl ethoxylated alcohol having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 1 to 10, from 1 to 7, more from 1 to 5 or from 3 to 7. The alkyl alkoxylated alcohol can be linear or branched, and substituted or un-substituted.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include those sold under the tradename Lutensol® from BASF.

Suitable cationic detersive surfactants include alkyl pyridinium compounds, alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, alkyl quaternary phosphonium compounds, alkyl ternary sulphonium compounds, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable cationic detersive surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds having the general formula:

(R)(R₁)(R₂)(R₃)N⁺X⁻

wherein, R is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C₆₋₁₈ alkyl or alkenyl moiety, R₁ and R₂ are independently selected from methyl or ethyl moieties, R₃ is a hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl or a hydroxyethyl moiety, X is an anion which provides charge neutrality, suitable anions include: halides, for example chloride; sulphate; and sulphonate. Suitable cationic detersive surfactants are mono-C₆₋₁₈ alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chlorides. Highly suitable cationic detersive surfactants are mono-C₈₋₁₀ alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride, mono-C₁₀₋₁₂ alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride and mono-C₁₀ alkyl mono-hydroxyethyl di-methyl quaternary ammonium chloride.

Suitable amphoteric/zwitterionic surfactants include amine oxides and betaines. Amine-neutralized anionic surfactants—Anionic surfactants of the present invention and adjunct anionic cosurfactants, may exist in an acid form, and said acid form may be neutralized to form a surfactant salt which is desirable for use in the present detergent compositions. Typical agents for neutralization include the metal counterion base such as hydroxides, eg, NaOH or KOH. Further preferred agents for neutralizing anionic surfactants of the present invention and adjunct anionic surfactants or cosurfactants in their acid forms include ammonia, amines, or alkanolamines. Alkanolamines are preferred. Suitable non-limiting examples including monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and other linear or branched alkanolamines known in the art; for example, highly preferred alkanolamines include 2-amino-1-propanol, 1-aminopropanol, monoisopropanolamine, or 1-amino-3-propanol. Amine neutralization may be done to a full or partial extent, e.g. part of the anionic surfactant mix may be neutralized with sodium or potassium and part of the anionic surfactant mix may be neutralized with amines or alkanolamines.

Surfactant systems comprising mixtures of one or more anionic and in addition one or more nonionic surfactants optionally with an additional surfactant such as a cationic surfactant, may be preferred. Preferred weight ratios of anionic to nonionic surfactant are at least 2:1, or even at least 1:1 to 1:10.

Builders—The compositions of the present invention may comprise one or more detergent builders or builder systems. When a builder is used, the subject consumer product will typically comprise at least about 1%, from about 2% to about 60% or even from about 5% to about 10% builder by weight of the subject consumer product. The composition may even be substantially free of builder; substantially free means “no deliberately added” zeolite and/or phosphate. Typical zeolite builders include zeolite A, zeolite P and zeolite MAP. A typical phosphate builder is sodium tri-polyphosphate.

Chelating Agents and Crystal Growth Inhibitors—The compositions herein may contain a chelating agent and/or a crystal growth inhibitor. Suitable molecules include copper, iron and/or manganese chelating agents and mixtures thereof. Suitable molecules include DTPA (Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid), HEDP (Hydroxyethane diphosphonic acid), DTPMP (Diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid)), 1,2-Dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid disodium salt hydrate, ethylenediamine, diethylene triamine, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetri-acetic acid (HEDTA), triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (TTHA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid (HEIDA), dihydroxyethylglycine (DHEG), ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid (EDTP), carboxymethyl inulin and 2-Phosphonobutane 1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (Bayhibit® AM) and derivatives thereof. Typically the consumer product may comprise from about 0.005% to about 15% or even from about 3.0% to about 10% chelating agent or crystal growth inhibitor by weight of the subject consumer product.

Dye Transfer Inhibiting Agents—The compositions of the present invention may also include one or more dye transfer inhibiting agents. Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof. When present in a subject consumer product, the dye transfer inhibiting agents may be present at levels from about 0.0001% to about 10%, from about 0.01% to about 5% or even from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the consumer product.

Brighteners—The compositions of the present invention can also contain additional components that may tint articles being cleaned, such as fluorescent brighteners.

The composition may comprise C.I. fluorescent brightener 260 in alpha-crystalline form having the following structure:

In one aspect, the brightener is a cold water soluble brightener, such as the C.I. fluorescent brightener 260 in alpha-crystalline form.

In one aspect the brightener is predominantly in alpha-crystalline form, which means that typically at least 50 wt %, at least 75 wt %, at least 90 wt %, at least 99 wt %, or even substantially all, of the C.I. fluorescent brightener 260 is in alpha-crystalline form.

The brightener is typically in micronized particulate form, having a weight average primary particle size of from 3 to 30 micrometers, from 3 micrometers to 20 micrometers, or from 3 to 10 micrometers.

The composition may comprises C.I. fluorescent brightener 260 in beta-crystalline form, and the weight ratio of: (i) C.I. fluorescent brightener 260 in alpha-crystalline form, to (ii) C.I. fluorescent brightener 260 in beta-crystalline form may be at least 0.1, or at least 0.6.

BE680847 relates to a process for making C.I fluorescent brightener 260 in alpha-crystalline form.

Commercial optical brighteners which may be useful in the present invention can be classified into subgroups, which include, but are not necessarily limited to, derivatives of stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, carboxylic acid, methinecyanines, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, azoles, 5- and 6-membered-ring heterocycles, and other miscellaneous agents. Examples of such brighteners are disclosed in “The Production and Application of Fluorescent Brightening Agents”, M. Zahradnik, Published by John Wiley & Sons, New York (1982). Specific nonlimiting examples of optical brighteners which are useful in the present compositions are those identified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,856 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,015.

A further suitable brightener has the structure below:

Suitable fluorescent brightener levels include lower levels of from about 0.01, from about 0.05, from about 0.1 or even from about 0.2 wt % to upper levels of 0.5 or even 0.75 wt %.

In one aspect the brightener may be loaded onto a clay to form a particle. Silicate salts—The compositions of the present invention can also contain silicate salts, such as sodium or potassium silicate. The composition may comprise from 0 wt % to less than 10 wt % silicate salt, to 9 wt %, or to 8 wt %, or to 7 wt %, or to 6 wt %, or to 5 wt %, or to 4 wt %, or to 3 wt %, or even to 2 wt %, and preferably from above 0 wt %, or from 0.5 wt %, or even from 1 wt % silicate salt. A suitable silicate salt is sodium silicate.

Dispersants—The compositions of the present invention can also contain dispersants. Suitable water-soluble organic materials include the homo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms.

Enzyme Stabilizers—Enzymes for use in compositions can be stabilized by various techniques. The enzymes employed herein can be stabilized by the presence of water-soluble sources of calcium and/or magnesium ions in the finished fabric and home care products that provide such ions to the enzymes. In case of aqueous compositions comprising protease, a reversible protease inhibitor, such as a boron compound including borate, 4-formyl phenylboronic acid, phenylboronic acid and derivatives thereof, or compounds such as calcium formate, sodium formate and 1,2-propane diol can be added to further improve stability. Solvents—Suitable solvents include water and other solvents such as lipophilic fluids. Examples of suitable lipophilic fluids include siloxanes, other silicones, hydrocarbons, glycol ethers, glycerine derivatives such as glycerine ethers, perfluorinated amines, perfluorinated and hydrofluoroether solvents, low-volatility nonfluorinated organic solvents, diol solvents, other environmentally-friendly solvents and mixtures thereof.

Structurant/Thickeners

Structured liquids can either be internally structured, whereby the structure is formed by primary ingredients (e.g. surfactant material) and/or externally structured by providing a three dimensional matrix structure using secondary ingredients (e.g. polymers, clay and/or silicate material). The composition may comprise a structurant, preferably from 0.01 wt % to 5 wt %, from 0.1 wt % to 2.0 wt % structurant. The structurant is typically selected from the group consisting of diglycerides and triglycerides, ethylene glycol distearate, microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose-based materials, microfiber cellulose, hydrophobically modified alkali-swellable emulsions such as Polygel W30 (3VSigma), biopolymers, xanthan gum, gellan gum, and mixtures thereof. A suitable structurant includes hydrogenated castor oil, and non-ethoxylated derivatives thereof. A suitable structurant is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,680. Such structurants have a thread-like structuring system having a range of aspect ratios. Other suitable structurants and the processes for making them are described in WO2010/034736.

Conditioning Agents

The composition of the present invention may include a high melting point fatty compound. The high melting point fatty compound useful herein has a melting point of 25° C. or higher, and is selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty alcohol derivatives, fatty acid derivatives, and mixtures thereof. Such compounds of low melting point are not intended to be included in this section. Non-limiting examples of the high melting point compounds are found in International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, Fifth Edition, 1993, and CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook, Second Edition, 1992.

The high melting point fatty compound is included in the composition at a level of from about 0.1% to about 40%, preferably from about 1% to about 30%, more preferably from about 1.5% to about 16% by weight of the composition, from about 1.5% to about 8% in view of providing improved conditioning benefits such as slippery feel during the application to wet hair, softness and moisturized feel on dry hair.

The compositions of the present invention may contain a cationic polymer. Concentrations of the cationic polymer in the composition typically range from about 0.05% to about 3%, in another embodiment from about 0.075% to about 2.0%, and in yet another embodiment from about 0.1% to about 1.0%. Suitable cationic polymers will have cationic charge densities of at least about 0.5 meq/gm, in another embodiment at least about 0.9 meq/gm, in another embodiment at least about 1.2 meq/gm, in yet another embodiment at least about 1.5 meq/gm, but in one embodiment also less than about 7 meq/gm, and in another embodiment less than about 5 meq/gm, at the pH of intended use of the composition, which pH will generally range from about pH 3 to about pH 9, in one embodiment between about pH 4 and about pH 8. Herein, “cationic charge density” of a polymer refers to the ratio of the number of positive charges on the polymer to the molecular weight of the polymer. The average molecular weight of such suitable cationic polymers will generally be between about 10,000 and 10 million, in one embodiment between about 50,000 and about 5 million, and in another embodiment between about 100,000 and about 3 million.

Suitable cationic polymers for use in the compositions of the present invention contain cationic nitrogen-containing moieties such as quaternary ammonium or cationic protonated amino moieties. Any anionic counterions can be used in association with the cationic polymers so long as the polymers remain soluble in water, in the composition, or in a coacervate phase of the composition, and so long as the counterions are physically and chemically compatible with the essential components of the composition or do not otherwise unduly impair product performance, stability or aesthetics. Nonlimiting examples of such counterions include halides (e.g., chloride, fluoride, bromide, iodide), sulfate and methylsulfate.

Nonlimiting examples of such polymers are described in the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, 3rd edition, edited by Estrin, Crosley, and Haynes, (The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, Inc., Washington, D.C. (1982)).

Other suitable cationic polymers for use in the composition include polysaccharide polymers, cationic guar gum derivatives, quaternary nitrogen-containing cellulose ethers, synthetic polymers, copolymers of etherified cellulose, guar and starch. When used, the cationic polymers herein are either soluble in the composition or are soluble in a complex coacervate phase in the composition formed by the cationic polymer and the anionic, amphoteric and/or zwitterionic surfactant component described hereinbefore. Complex coacervates of the cationic polymer can also be formed with other charged materials in the composition.

Suitable cationic polymers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,962,418; 3,958,581; and U.S. Publication No. 2007/0207109A1, which are all.

The composition of the present invention may include a nonionic polymer as a conditioning agent. Polyalkylene glycols having a molecular weight of more than about 1000 are useful herein. Useful are those having the following general formula:

wherein R⁹⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, and mixtures thereof. Conditioning agents, and in particular silicones, may be included in the composition. The conditioning agents useful in the compositions of the present invention typically comprise a water insoluble, water dispersible, non-volatile, liquid that forms emulsified, liquid particles. Suitable conditioning agents for use in the composition are those conditioning agents characterized generally as silicones (e.g., silicone oils, cationic silicones, silicone gums, high refractive silicones, and silicone resins), organic conditioning oils (e.g., hydrocarbon oils, polyolefins, and fatty esters) or combinations thereof, or those conditioning agents which otherwise form liquid, dispersed particles in the aqueous surfactant matrix herein. Such conditioning agents should be physically and chemically compatible with the essential components of the composition, and should not otherwise unduly impair product stability, aesthetics or performance.

The concentration of the conditioning agent in the composition should be sufficient to provide the desired conditioning benefits. Such concentration can vary with the conditioning agent, the conditioning performance desired, the average size of the conditioning agent particles, the type and concentration of other components, and other like factors.

The concentration of the silicone conditioning agent typically ranges from about 0.01% to about 10%. Non-limiting examples of suitable silicone conditioning agents, and optional suspending agents for the silicone, are described in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 34,584, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,104,646; 5,106,609; 4,152,416; 2,826,551; 3,964,500; 4,364,837; 6,607,717; 6,482,969; 5,807,956; 5,981,681; 6,207,782; 7,465,439; 7,041,767; 7,217,777; US Patent Application Nos. 2007/0286837A1; 2005/0048549A1; 2007/0041929A1; British Pat. No. 849,433; German Patent No. DE 10036533, which are all incorporated herein by reference; Chemistry and Technology of Silicones, New York: Academic Press (1968); General Electric Silicone Rubber Product Data Sheets SE 30, SE 33, SE 54 and SE 76; Silicon Compounds, Petrarch Systems, Inc. (1984); and in Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, vol. 15, 2d ed., pp 204-308, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1989).

The compositions of the present invention may also comprise from about 0.05% to about 3% of at least one organic conditioning oil as the conditioning agent, either alone or in combination with other conditioning agents, such as the silicones (described herein). Suitable conditioning oils include hydrocarbon oils, polyolefins, and fatty esters. Also suitable for use in the compositions herein are the conditioning agents described by the Procter & Gamble Company in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,674,478, and 5,750,122. Also suitable for use herein are those conditioning agents described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,529,586, 4,507,280, 4,663,158, 4,197,865, 4,217, 914, 4,381,919, and 4,422, 853.

Hygiene and malodour—The compositions of the present invention may also comprise one or more of zinc ricinoleate, thymol, quaternary ammonium salts such as Bardac®, polyethylenimines (such as Lupasol® from BASF) and zinc complexes thereof, silver and silver compounds, especially those designed to slowly release Ag⁺ or nano-silver dispersions.

Probiotics—The compositions may comprise probiotics such as those described in WO2009/043709.

Suds Boosters—If high sudsing is desired, suds boosters such as the C₁₀-C₁₆ alkanolamides or C₁₀-C₁₄ alkyl sulphates can be incorporated into the compositions, typically at 1%-10% levels. The C₁₀-C₁₄ monoethanol and diethanol amides illustrate a typical class of such suds boosters. Use of such suds boosters with high sudsing adjunct surfactants such as the amine oxides, betaines and sultaines noted above is also advantageous. If desired, water-soluble magnesium and/or calcium salts such as MgCl₂, MgSO₄, CaCl₂, CaSO₄ and the like, can be added at levels of, typically, 0.1%-2%, to provide additional suds and to enhance grease removal performance.

Suds Suppressors

Compounds for reducing or suppressing the formation of suds can be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. Suds suppression can be of particular importance in the so-called “high concentration cleaning process” as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,489,455 and 4,489,574, and in front-loading-style washing machines.

A wide variety of materials may be used as suds suppressors, and suds suppressors are well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, Volume 7, pages 430-447 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1979). Examples of suds supressors include monocarboxylic fatty acid and soluble salts therein, high molecular weight hydrocarbons such as paraffin, fatty acid esters (e.g., fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monovalent alcohols, aliphatic C₁₈-C₄₀ ketones (e.g., stearone), N-alkylated amino triazines, waxy hydrocarbons preferably having a melting point below about 100° C., silicone suds suppressors, and secondary alcohols. Suds supressors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,954,347; 4,265,779; 4,265,779; 3,455,839; 3,933,672; 4,652,392; 4,978,471; 4,983,316; 5,288,431; 4,639,489; 4,749,740; and 4,798,679; 4,075,118; European Patent Application No. 89307851.9; EP 150,872; and DOS 2,124,526.

For any detergent compositions to be used in automatic laundry washing machines, suds should not form to the extent that they overflow the washing machine. Suds suppressors, when utilized, are preferably present in a “suds suppressing amount. By “suds suppressing amount” is meant that the formulator of the composition can select an amount of this suds controlling agent that will sufficiently control the suds to result in a low-sudsing laundry detergent for use in automatic laundry washing machines.

The compositions herein will generally comprise from 0% to about 10% of suds suppressor. When utilized as suds suppressors, monocarboxylic fatty acids, and salts therein, will be present typically in amounts up to about 5%, by weight, of the detergent composition. Preferably, from about 0.5% to about 3% of fatty monocarboxylate suds suppressor is utilized. Silicone suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts up to about 2.0%, by weight, of the detergent composition, although higher amounts may be used. Monostearyl phosphate suds suppressors are generally utilized in amounts ranging from about 0.1% to about 2%, by weight, of the composition. Hydrocarbon suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts ranging from about 0.01% to about 5.0%, although higher levels can be used. The alcohol suds suppressors are typically used at 0.2%-3% by weight of the finished compositions.

Water-Soluble Film—The compositions of the present invention may also be encapsulated within a water-soluble film. Preferred film materials are preferably polymeric materials. The film material can, for example, be obtained by casting, blow-moulding, extrusion or blown extrusion of the polymeric material, as known in the art.

Preferred polymers, copolymers or derivatives thereof suitable for use as pouch material are selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic acid, cellulose, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates, polycarboxylic acids and salts, polyaminoacids or peptides, polyamides, polyacrylamide, copolymers of maleic/acrylic acids, polysaccharides including starch and gelatine, natural gums such as xanthum and carragum. More preferred polymers are selected from polyacrylates and water-soluble acrylate copolymers, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, dextrin, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, maltodextrin, polymethacrylates, and most preferably selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and combinations thereof. Preferably, the level of polymer in the pouch material, for example a PVA polymer, is at least 60%. The polymer can have any weight average molecular weight, preferably from about 1000 to 1,000,000, more preferably from about 10,000 to 300,000 yet more preferably from about 20,000 to 150,000. Mixtures of polymers can also be used as the pouch material. Naturally, different film material and/or films of different thickness may be employed in making the compartments of the present invention. A benefit in selecting different films is that the resulting compartments may exhibit different solubility or release characteristics.

Most preferred film materials are PVA films known under the MonoSol trade reference M8630, M8900, H8779 (as described in the Applicants co-pending applications ref 44528 and 11599) and those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,117 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,512 and PVA films of corresponding solubility and deformability characteristics.

The film material herein can also comprise one or more additive ingredients. For example, it can be beneficial to add plasticisers, for example glycerol, ethylene glycol, diethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof. Other additives include functional detergent additives to be delivered to the wash water, for example organic polymeric dispersants, etc.

Processes of Making the Compositions

The compositions of the present invention can be formulated into any suitable form and prepared by any process chosen by the formulator, non-limiting examples of which are described in Applicants' examples and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,280; U.S. 20030087791A1; U.S. 20030087790A1; U.S. 20050003983A1; U.S. 20040048764A1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,636; U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,412; U.S. 20050227891A1; EP 1070115A2; U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,584; U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,297; U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,005; U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,645; U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,422; U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,448; U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,392; U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,303 all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The compositions of the invention or prepared according to the invention comprise cleaning and/or treatment composition including, but not limited to, products for treating fabrics, hard surfaces and any other surfaces in the area of fabric and home care, including: air care including air fresheners and scent delivery systems, car care, dishwashing, fabric conditioning (including softening and/or freshening), laundry detergency, laundry and rinse additive and/or care, hard surface cleaning and/or treatment including floor and toilet bowl cleaners, granular or powder-form all-purpose or “heavy-duty” washing agents, especially cleaning detergents; liquid, gel or paste-form all-purpose washing agents, especially the so-called heavy-duty liquid types; liquid fine-fabric detergents; hand dishwashing agents or light duty dishwashing agents, especially those of the high-foaming type; machine dishwashing agents, including the various tablet, granular, liquid and rinse-aid types for household and institutional use: car or carpet shampoos, bathroom cleaners including toilet bowl cleaners; as well as cleaning auxiliaries such as bleach additives and “stain-stick” or pre-treat types, substrate-laden products such as dryer added sheets. Preferred are compositions and methods for cleaning and/or treating textiles and/or hard surfaces, most preferably textiles. The compositions are preferably compositions used in a pre-treatment step or main wash step of a washing process, most preferably for use in textile washing step.

As used herein, the term “fabric and/or hard surface cleaning and/or treatment composition” is a subset of cleaning and treatment compositions that includes, unless otherwise indicated, granular or powder-form all-purpose or “heavy-duty” washing agents, especially cleaning detergents; liquid, gel or paste-form all-purpose washing agents, especially the so-called heavy-duty liquid types; liquid fine-fabric detergents; hand dishwashing agents or light duty dishwashing agents, especially those of the high-foaming type; machine dishwashing agents, including the various tablet, granular, liquid and rinse-aid types for household and institutional use; liquid cleaning and disinfecting agents, car or carpet shampoos, bathroom cleaners including toilet bowl cleaners; fabric conditioning products including softening and/or freshening that may be in liquid, solid and/or dryer sheet form; as well as cleaning auxiliaries such as bleach additives and “stain-stick” or pre-treat types, substrate-laden products such as dryer added sheets. All of such products which are applicable may be in standard, concentrated or even highly concentrated form even to the extent that such products may in certain aspect be non-aqueous.

Method of Use

The present invention includes a method for cleaning and/or treating a textile or hard surface or other surface in fabric or home care. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the method comprises the step of contacting the surface to be treated in a pre-treatment step or main wash step of a washing process, most preferably for use in a textile washing step. In one embodiment of the invention the lipase variant and bleach components are added sequentially into the method for cleaning and/or treating the surface. For example, in a preferred method there may be bleach pre-treatment step in which the bleach component may be contacted with the surface in a pre-treatment step, and the pre-treated surface in the presence of bleach component is then contacted in a second step with the lipase variant. Alternatively the lipase variant may be contacted with the surface prior to later addition of the bleach component.

As used herein, washing includes but is not limited to, scrubbing, and mechanical agitation. Drying of such surfaces or fabrics may be accomplished by any one of the common means employed either in domestic or industrial settings. The cleaning compositions of the present invention are ideally suited for use in laundry applications. Accordingly, the present invention includes a method for laundering a fabric. The method comprises the steps of contacting a fabric to be laundered with a said cleaning laundry solution comprising at least one embodiment of Applicants' cleaning composition, cleaning additive or mixture thereof. The fabric may comprise most any fabric capable of being laundered in normal consumer or institutional use conditions. The solution preferably has a pH of from about 8 to about 10.5. The compositions may be employed at concentrations of from about 500 ppm to about 15,000 ppm in solution. The water temperatures typically range from about 5° C. to about 90° C. The water to fabric ratio is typically from about 1:1 to about 30:1.

The present invention is further described by the following examples that should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Automatic Mechanical Stress Assay for Laundry

In order to assess the stability to oxidative degradation of the lipase variant, the value for Relative Performance (RPwash) is determined: wash performance (P) of the invention lipase variant against the lipase of SEQ ID NO:1 or RP=P(invention lipase variant)/P(SEQ ID NO:1 lipase). Wash performance is determined by carrying out laundry, washing experiments using the Automatic Mechanical Stress Assay (AMSA). With the AMSA, the wash performance of a large quantity of small volume lipase-detergent solutions can be examined. The AMSA plate has a number of slots for test solutions and a lid firmly squeezing the stained textile against all the slot openings. During the washing time, the plate, test solutions, textile and lid are vigorously shaken to bring the test solution in contact with the textile and apply mechanical stress in a regular, periodic oscillating manner. For further description see WO02/42740 especially the paragraph “Special method embodiments” at page 23-24.

The laundry experiments are conducted under the experimental conditions specified below:

Detergent dosage 4.48 g/L Test solution volume 160 microliter pH Aprox. 10 Wash time 20 minutes Temperature 30° C. Water hardness 18° dH Model detergent and test materials were as follows:

Laundry powder model Sodium-LAS 20.1% detergent Alcohol ethoxylate, C12-15 7EO 4.5% Sodium carbonate 11.8% Zeolite A4 23.9% Sodium citrate 11.6% TAED 5.6% Percarbonate 22.3% Bleach catalyst* 0.2 ppm active material Test material Cream turmeric stain according to WO2006125437 Lipase/variant dosage 1 ppm *bleach catalyst has chemical structure corresponding to the chemical formula:

Water hardness is adjusted to 18° dH by addition of CaCl₂, MgCl₂, and NaHCO₃ (Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺=4:1:7.5) to the test system. After washing the textiles are flushed in tap water and dried for 5 minutes at 85° C. in a heating cabinet.

The wash performance is measured as the brightness of the color of the textile washed. Brightness can also be expressed as the intensity of the light reflected from the sample when illuminated with white light. When the sample is stained the intensity of the reflected light is lower, than that of a clean sample. Therefore the intensity of the reflected light can be used to measure wash performance.

Color measurements are made with a professional flatbed scanner (Kodak iQsmart, Kodak, Midtager 29, DK-2605 Brøndby, Denmark), which is used to capture an image of the washed textile.

To extract a value for the light intensity from the scanned images, 24-bit pixel values from the image are converted into values for red, green and blue (RGB). The intensity value (Int) is calculated by adding the RGB values together as vectors and then taking the length of the resulting vector:

Int=√{square root over (r ² +g ² +b ²)}.

The wash performance (P) of the lipase variant is calculated in accordance with the following formula: P=ΔInt=Int(v)−Int(r), where Int(v) is the light intensity value of textile surface washed with the lipase variant, and Int(r) is the light intensity value of textile surface washed without the lipase variant.

Calculation of Relative Performance score (RPwash): A relative performance score is given as the result of the full scale was washed in accordance with the definition: Relative Performance scores (RPwash) give performance (P) of the invention lipase variant against the conventional lipase: RP═P(invention lipase variant)/P(conventional lipase). A lipase formulation is considered to exhibit improved wash performance, if it performs better than the conventional lipase.

Example 2 G91 Variants with Improved Performance in the Presence of Bleach Catalysts

Mutations RP wash — 1.00 G91V 2.20 G91I 2.10 G91L 1.91 G91Q 1.89 G91S 1.71 G91A 1.69 G91T 1.65 G91N 1.62 G91W 1.55 G91R 1.16 G91K 1.10

Example 3 T37 Variants with Improved Performance in the Presence of Bleach Catalysts

Mutations RP wash — 1.00 T37R 2.14

Example 4 N39 Variants with Improved Performance in the Presence of Bleach Catalysts

Mutations RP wash — 1.00 N39R 1.84 N39K 1.58

Example 5 Variants with Two or More Mutations and with Improved Performance in the Presence of Bleach Catalysts

Mutations RP wash T231R N233R 1.00 T37R N39R G91A D96G T231R N233R 1.18 G91Q A150G E210Q T231R N233R P250R 1.49 G91Q T143A E210Q T231R N233R P250R 1.57 G91A D96G G225R T231R N233R 1.21

Composition Examples 1-6

Granular laundry detergent compositions designed for hand washing or top-loading washing machines.

1 2 3 4 5 6 (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) Linear 16 22 14 15 14 12 alkylbenzenesulfonate C₁₂₋₁₄ 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.6 0.0 0 Dimethylhydroxyethyl ammonium chloride AE3S 0.7 1 1.2 0.0 0.3 0.9 AE7 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 0.0 2 Sodium tripolyphosphate 5 0.0 4 9 2 0.0 Zeolite A 0.0 1 0.0 1 4 1 1.6R Silicate (SiO₂:Na₂O at 7 5 2 3 3 5 ratio 1.6:1) Sodium carbonate 25 20 25 17 18 19 Polyacrylate MW 4500 1 0.6 1 1 1.5 1 Random graft copolymer¹ 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Carboxymethyl cellulose 1 0.3 1 1 1 1 Amylase - Stainzyme 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 Plus ® (20 mg active/g) Protease - Savinase ® 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 (32.89 mg active/g) Amylase - Natalase ® (8.65 mg 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 active/g) Lipase of the present 0.03 0.07 0.3 0.1 0.07 0.4 invention (20 mg active/g) Fluorescent Brightener 1 0.06 0.0 0.06 0.18 0.06 0.06 Fluorescent Brightener 2 0.1 0.06 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 DTPA 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.25 0.6 0.6 MgSO₄ 1 1 1 0.5 1 1 Sodium Percarbonate 0.0 5.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 Sodium Perborate 4.4 0.0 3.85 2.09 0.78 3.63 Monohydrate NOBS 1.9 0.0 1.66 0.0 0.33 0.75 TAED 0.58 1.2 0.51 0.3 0.015 0.28 Organic bleach catalyst 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.0 0.03 0.01 Sulfonated zinc 0.0030 0.0 0.0012 0.0030 0.0021 0.0 phthalocyanine S-ACMC 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.06 0.0 Direct Violet Dye (DV9 or 0.0 0.0 0.0003 0.0005 0.0003 0.0 DV99 or DV66) Sulfate/Moisture Balance ¹Random graft copolymer is a polyvinyl acetate grafted polyethylene oxide copolymer having a polyethylene oxide backbone and multiple polyvinyl acetate side chains. The molecular weight of the polyethylene oxide backbone is about 6000 and the weight ratio of the polyethylene oxide to polyvinyl acetate is about 40 to 60 and no more than 1 grafting point per 50 ethylene oxide units.

Composition Examples 7-12

Granular laundry detergent compositions designed for front-loading automatic washing machines.

7 8 9 10 11 12 (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) Linear alkylbenzenesulfonate 8 7.1 7 6.5 7.5 7.5 AE3S 0 4.8 0 5.2 4 4 C12-14 Alkylsulfate 1 0 1 0 0 0 AE7 2.2 0 3.2 0 0 0 C₁₀₋₁₂ Dimethyl 0.75 0.94 0.98 0.98 0 0 hydroxyethylammonium chloride Crystalline layered silicate (δ- 4.1 0 4.8 0 0 0 Na₂Si₂O₅) Zeolite A 5 0 5 0 2 2 Citric Acid 3 5 3 4 2.5 3 Sodium Carbonate 15 20 14 20 23 23 Silicate 2R (SiO₂:Na₂O at ratio 0.08 0 0.11 0 0 0 2:1) Soil release agent 0.75 0.72 0.71 0.72 0 0 Acrylic Acid/Maleic Acid 1.1 3.7 1.0 3.7 2.6 3.8 Copolymer Carboxymethylcellulose 0.15 1.4 0.2 1.4 1 0.5 Protease - Purafect ® (84 mg 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.15 0.12 0.13 active/g) Amylase - Stainzyme Plus ® (20 mg 0.2 0.15 0.2 0.3 0.15 0.15 active/g) Lipase of the present invention 0.05 0.15 0.1 0 0 0 (20 mg active/g) Amylase - Natalase ® (8.65 mg 0.1 0.2 0 0 0.15 0.15 active/g) Cellulase - Celluclean ™ (15.6 mg 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.1 active/g) TAED 3.6 4.0 3.6 4.0 2.2 1.4 Percarbonate 13 13.2 13 13.2 16 14 Organic bleach catalyst 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.07 0.1 0.01 Na salt of Ethylenediamine-N,N′- 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 disuccinic acid, (S,S) isomer (EDDS) Hydroxyethane di phosphonate 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 (HEDP) MgSO₄ 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.4 0.4 Perfume 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 Suds suppressor agglomerate 0.05 0.1 0.05 0.1 0.06 0.05 Soap 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0 0 Sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine 0.0007 0.0012 0.0007 0 0 0 (active) S-ACMC 0.01 0.01 0 0.01 0 0 Direct Violet 9 (active) 0 0 0.0001 0.0001 0 0 Sulfate/Water & Miscellaneous Balance Any of the above compositions is used to launder fabrics at a concentration of 7000 to 10000 ppm in water, 20-90° C., and a 5:1 water:cloth ratio. The typical pH is about 10. The fabrics are then dried. In one aspect, the fabrics are actively dried using a dryer. In one aspect, the fabrics are actively dried using an iron. In another aspect, the fabrics are merely allowed to dry on a line wherein they are exposed to air and optionally sunlight.

Composition Examples 13-18 Heavy Duty Liquid Laundry Detergent Compositions

13 14 15 16 17 18 (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) AE(1.8)S C₁₂₋₁₅ alkyl ethoxy (1.8) sulfate 11 10 4 6.32 0 0 AE3S 0 0 0 0 2.4 0 Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate 1.4 4 8 3.3 5 8 HSAS 3 5.1 3 0 0 0 Sodium formate 1.6 0.09 1.2 0.04 1.6 1.2 Sodium hydroxide 2.3 3.8 1.7 1.9 1.7 2.5 Monoethanolamine 1.4 1.49 1.0 0.7 0 0 Diethylene glycol 5.5 0.0 4.1 0.0 0 0 AE9 0.4 0.6 0.3 0.3 0 0 AE7 0 0 0 0 2.4 6 Chelant 0.15 0.15 0.11 0.07 0.5 0.11 Citric Acid 2.5 3.96 1.88 1.98 0.9 2.5 C₁₂₋₁₄ dimethyl Amine Oxide 0.3 0.73 0.23 0.37 0 0 C₁₂₋₁₈ Fatty Acid 0.8 1.9 0.6 0.99 1.2 0 4-formyl-phenylboronic acid 0 0 0 0 0.05 0.02 Borax 1.43 1.5 1.1 0.75 0 1.07 Ethanol 1.54 1.77 1.15 0.89 0 3 Ethoxylated (EO₁₅) tetraethylene pentamine 0.3 0.33 0.23 0.17 0.0 0.0 Ethoxylated hexamethylene diamine 0.8 0.81 0.6 0.4 1 1 1,2-Propanediol 0.0 6.6 0.0 3.3 0.5 2 Protease (40.6 mg active/g) 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.6 Mannanase - Mannaway ® (25 mg active/g) 0.07 0.05 0.045 0.06 0.04 0.045 Amylase - Stainzyme ® (15 mg active/g) 0.3 0 0.3 0.1 0 0.4 Amylase - Natalase ® (29 mg active/g) 0 0.2 0.1 0.15 0.07 0 Lipase of the present invention (20 mg 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.5 active/g) Liquitint ® Violet CT (active) 0.006 0.002 0 0 0 0.002 Water, perfume, dyes & other components Balance

Composition Examples 19-31 Unit Dose Compositions

These are formulations for unit-dose laundry detergents. Such unit dose formulations can comprise one or multiple compartments.

Ingredients 19 20 21 22 23 Alkylbenzene sulfonic acid 14.5 14.5 14.5 14.5 14.5 C11-13, 23.5% 2-phenyl isomer C₁₂₋₁₄ alkyl ethoxy 3 sulfate 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 C₁₂₋₁₄ alkyl 7-ethoxylate 13.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 Citric Acid 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 Fatty Acid 14.8 14.8 14.8 14.8 14.8 Ethoxylated 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 Polyethylenimine¹ Protease (40.6 mg active/g) 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.9 0.7 Mannanase - Mannaway ® 0.07 0.05 0.045 0.06 0.04 (25 mg active/g) Amylase - Stainzyme ® 0.3 0 0.3 0.1 0 (15 mg active/g) Amylase - Natalase ® 0 0.2 0.1 0.15 0.07 (29 mg active/g) Lipase of the present 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.4 invention (20 mg active/g) Hydroxyethane diphosphonic 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 acid Fluorescent brightener 1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 1,2-Propanediol 15.8 13.8 13.8 13.8 13.8 Glycerol 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 Monoethanolamine 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 Triisopropanolamine — — 2.0 — — Triethanolamine — 2.0 — — — Sodium cumene sulfonate — — — — 2.0 1,4-Cyclohexane dimethanol — — — 2.0 — Water 10 10 10 10 10 Structurant (Polygel W301, 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.14 3V Sigma) Perfume 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 Buffers (monoethanolamine) To pH 8.0 Solvents (1,2 propanediol, To 100% ethanol) ¹Polyethylenimine (MW = 600) with 20 ethoxylate groups per —NH.

Raw Materials and Notes for Composition Examples 1-23

Linear alkylbenzenesulfonate having an average aliphatic carbon chain length C₁₁-C₁₂ supplied by Stepan, Northfield, Ill., USA

C₁₂₋₁₄ Dimethylhydroxyethyl ammonium chloride, supplied by Clariant GmbH, Sulzbach, Germany

AE3S is C₁₂₋₁₅ alkyl ethoxy (3) sulfate supplied by Stepan, Northfield, Ill., USA

AE7 is C₁₂₋₁₅ alcohol ethoxylate, with an average degree of ethoxylation of 7, supplied by Huntsman, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

AE9 is C₁₂₋₁₃ alcohol ethoxylate, with an average degree of ethoxylation of 9, supplied by Huntsman, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

HSAS is a mid-branched primary alkyl sulfate with carbon chain length of about 16-17

Sodium tripolyphosphate is supplied by Rhodia, Paris, France

Zeolite A is supplied by Industrial Zeolite (UK) Ltd, Grays, Essex, UK

1.6R Silicate is supplied by Koma, Nestemica, Czech Republic

Sodium Carbonate is supplied by Solvay, Houston, Tex., USA

Polyacrylate MW 4500 is supplied by BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany

Carboxymethyl cellulose is Finnfix® V supplied by CP Kelco, Arnhem, Netherlands

Suitable chelants are, for example, diethylenetetraamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) supplied by Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich., USA or Hydroxyethane di phosphonate (HEDP) supplied by Solutia, St Louis, Mo., USA

Savinase®, Natalase®, Stainzyme®, Lipex®, Celluclean™, Mannaway® and Whitezyme® are all products of Novozymes, Bagsvaerd, Denmark.

Proteases may be supplied by Genencor International, Palo Alto, Calif., USA (e.g. Purafect Prime®) or by Novozymes, Bagsvaerd, Denmark (e.g. Liquanase®, Coronase®).

Fluorescent Brightener 1 is Tinopal® AMS, Fluorescent Brightener 2 is Tinopal® CBS-X, Sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine and Direct Violet 9 is Pergasol® Violet BN-Z all supplied by Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Basel, Switzerland

Sodium percarbonate supplied by Solvay, Houston, Tex., USA

Sodium perborate is supplied by Degussa, Hanau, Germany

NOBS is sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, supplied by Future Fuels, Batesville, Ark., USA

TAED is tetraacetylethylenediamine, supplied under the Peractive® brand name by Clariant GmbH, Sulzbach, Germany

Organic bleach catalyst has the following structure, where R¹³=2-butyloctyl,

and is produced according to US patent application 2006/0089284A1.

S-ACMC is carboxymethylcellulose conjugated with C.I. Reactive Blue 19, sold by Megazyme, Wicklow, Ireland under the product name AZO-CM-CELLULOSE, product code S-ACMC.

Soil release agent is Texcare® SRA300, supplied by Clariant, Frankfurt, Germany

Acrylic Acid/Maleic Acid Copolymer is molecular weight 70,000 and acrylate:maleate ratio 70:30, supplied by BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany

Na salt of Ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid, (S,S) isomer (EDDS) is supplied by Octel, Ellesmere Port, UK

Hydroxyethane di phosphonate (HEDP) is supplied by Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich., USA

Suds suppressor agglomerate is supplied by Dow Corning, Midland, Mich., USA

HSAS is mid-branched alkyl sulfate as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,303 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,443

C₁₂₋₁₄ dimethyl Amine Oxide is supplied by Procter & Gamble Chemicals, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Liquitint® Violet CT and ethoxylated thiophene dyes are supplied by Milliken, Spartanburg, S.C., USA

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of cleaning a textile or hard surface or other surface in fabric and home care comprising the steps of: a) contacting the surface with an aqueous solution comprising (i) a lipase; and (ii) a bleach component and (iii) optional detergent adjunct; b) rinsing and drying the textile or hard surface; wherein the lipase has improved stability to oxidative degradation compared to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 and lipase activity.
 2. A method of cleaning a textile or hard surface or other surface in fabric and home care comprising the steps of: a) contacting the surface with an aqueous solution comprising (i) a lipase; and (ii) a bleach component and (iii) optional detergent adjunct; b) rinsing and drying the textile or hard surface; wherein the lipase comprises a lipase variant comprising a substitution at one or more of the positions selected from the group of positions corresponding to T37, N39 and G91, of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the variant has lipase activity.
 3. A method of manufacturing a detergent composition comprising a lipase exhibiting improved stability to oxidative degradation, comprising the step of mixing a lipase variant with a detergent adjunct, wherein the lipase variant has improved stability to oxidative degradation compared to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 and wherein the variant has lipase activity.
 4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the lipase variant comprises a substitution at one or more of the positions selected from the group of positions corresponding to T37, N39 and G91 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1.
 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the lipase exhibits improved stability to oxidative degradation in the presence of a compound of Formula 2:

Formula 2 in which R¹ is 2-butyloctyl, according to the Test defined in Example 1 herein.
 6. A method according to claim 3 wherein the lipase is mixed with a bleach component.
 7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bleach component comprises a bleach catalyst that is capable of accepting an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and transferring the oxygen atom to an oxidizeable substrate and (ii) a diacyl and/or tetraacyl peroxide species.
 8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bleach catalyst comprises an oxazidinium and/or dioxirane functional group, and/or is capable of forming an oxaziridinium and/or a dioxirane functional group upon acceptance of an oxygen atom.
 9. A method according to claim 6 wherein the bleach catalyst has a chemical structure corresponding to the chemical formula:

wherein: n and m are independently from 0 to 4; each R¹ is independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, heterocyclic ring, fused heterocyclic ring, nitro, halo, cyano, sulphonato, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic, and carboalkoxy radicals, and any two vicinal R¹ substituents may combine to form a fused aryl, fused carbocyclic or fused heterocyclic ring; each R² is independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted radical independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkaryl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylenes, heterocyclic ring, alkoxy, arylcarbonyl groups, carboxyalkyl groups and amide groups; any R² may be joined together with any other of R² to form part of a common ring; any geminal R² may combine to form a carbonyl; and wherein any two R² may combine to form a substituted or unsubstituted fused unsaturated moiety; R³ is a C₁ to C₂₀ substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R⁴ is hydrogen or the moiety Q_(t)-A, wherein: Q is a branched or unbranched alkylene, t=0 or 1, and A is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of OSO₃ ⁻, SO₃ ⁻, CO₂ ⁻, OCO₂ ⁻, OPO₃ ²⁻, OPO₃H⁻ and OPO₂ ⁻; R⁵ is hydrogen or the moiety —CR¹¹R¹²—Y-G_(b)-Y_(c)—[(CR⁹R¹⁰)_(y)—O]_(k)—R⁸, wherein: each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, N—H, or N—R⁸; and each R⁸ is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, said moieties being substituted or unsubstituted, and whether substituted or unsubstituted said moieties having less than 21 carbons; each G is independently selected from the group consisting of CO, SO₂, SO, PO and PO₂; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl; R¹¹ and R¹² are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl, or when taken together may join to form a carbonyl; b=0 or 1; c can=0 or 1, but c must=0 if b=0; y is an integer of from 1 to 6; k is an integer of from 0 to 20; R⁶ is H, or an alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl moiety; said moieties being substituted or unsubstituted; and X, if present, is a suitable charge balancing counterion.
 10. A method according to claim 6 wherein the bleach catalyst has a chemical structure corresponding to the chemical formula:

wherein R¹³ is a branched alkyl group containing from 3 to 24 carbons, or a linear alkyl group containing from 1 to 24 carbons.
 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein R¹³ is selected from the group consisting of 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, iso-tridecyl and iso-pentadecyl.
 12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the parent lipase comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 60% identity with the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; consists of the amino acid sequence of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a fragment thereof having lipase activity.
 13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the variant is: a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 60% identity with the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1; b. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under at least low stringency conditions with: (i) the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; or (ii) a full-length complementary strand of (i), or c. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 60% identity with the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the substitution in the lipase variant is selected from T37A,D,E,F,G,H,I,L,N,P,Q,R,S,V,W,Y, N39A,C,D,E,F,G,I,K,L,M,P,Q,R,T,V,W,Y, and G91D,H,I,P,Q.
 15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the variant comprises the substitution G91A.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the variant further comprises a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to positions D96, T143, A150, E210, G225, T231, N233 and P250 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, preferably a substitution selected from D96G, T143A, A150G, E210Q, G225R, T231R, N233R and P250R and mixtures thereof.
 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the variant has the following substitutions: a. G91A+D96G+T231R+N233R; b. G91Q+T143A+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R; c. G91Q+A150G+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R; d. T37R+N39R+G91A+D96G+T231R+N233R; e. G91A+D96G+G225R+T231R+N233R; f. G91Q+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R; g. G91N+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R; h. G91I+E210Q+T231R+N233R+P250R; i. G91L+E210Q+T231R+N233R; or j. G91A+D96G+A150G+T231R+N233R. 